Imago Dei

Dear Lord, It was a confusing moment to realize that I didn’t trust You. I realized that I did not know myself in that moment. I had lost complete identity because I didn’t know who You are. If I don’t know who You are then I have nothing.

I am going to rewind for a moment. This year (2024) I had a beautiful opportunity to speak at a college to about 70 girls. This was an amazing opportunity for me to overcome my fear of speaking and the topic immediately came to mind that I wanted to talk about. Their value.

'Cause honestly, I have wrestled with my value for a long time. I had been told I was inconvenient, a burden, a "B", and lots of other unloving comments...

BUT GOD has been lovingly rewriting my view of me through His Word. He made me and said His thoughts of me are more than the sands of beaches, He laid out beautiful plans for me in His book, and He formed me to be wonderful (Psalms 139). This passage in Psalms applies to you too.

When God created humankind in Genesis, He said He made us Imago Dei.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 NIV

He has made you and me as image-bearers of Himself. One second. Let me breakdown my crazy train of thought right now. Ok ok, so this God of the mountains. Creator of molecules that if split in half cause atomic explosions. Author of the redemption story. One who holds the seas in place. Told gravity what to do. Painted the butterflies. Put the orbit in motion. Knit together humans from dirt and breathed the perfect mixture of oxygen, hydrogen, and other things I don't know the science to... this God. This God is the one that decided to allow us to reflect Him in His wondrous glory.

*God Drops Mic*

So seriously. Because we are image-bearers of Christ- we are SO valuable.

I will say... my opening prayer was a real one. Now and then I get in a low mood again and I have to remind myself that God is faithful, even when my emotions are rocking my world. I still wrestle with God on why He allowed certain things to happen in my life. I know they hold purpose, but they also held pain. I'm comforted when I see others in the Bible that God loves wrestle with God too. Such as David in the book of Psalms and Habakkuk as he too wrestled with God about justice.

In the book Flourish, Dr. Catherine Weber states, “Being able to wrestle with God is as much of a sign of security as being able to say the right thing to Him.”

I loved that. It is like saying I have permission to go before the Father who already knows what is on my heart and lay it out before Him and go “do You see this? Why? Are You who You say You are?” It is in those moments I feel myself fully accepted by God. Because His character stands. He can take my hard questions. He can take your hard questions. Go for it!

I got to the part in Flourish I realized how our view of God shapes our view of ourselves. She writes:

• “How we imagine God, experience God and our deepest beliefs about God are referred to as ‘God concept’, ‘God representation’, or ‘God images.’”

• “(Our view of God) is intimately linked to our attitudes, our beliefs about life and others. Our image of God is also a reflection of our internalized relationship attachment with others, especially our caregivers.”

• “As you begin to understand how God is your safe place you may begin to experience yourself in a new way as someone who is lovable, someone He really cares about and wants to support.” p.77
  

I actually did something similar in another post: Knowing God. But it is so helpful to take a second and ponder. Look at the list of names below... Which names of God have you seen active in your life? Which ones do you want to know more of Him? Which ones are you wrestling with?

Good. Safe. Holy. Merciful. Wise. Just. Faithful. Full of grace. Love. Comforter. Refuge. Strength. Redeemer. Strong Tower. Judge. Hiding Place. Trustworthy. Teacher. Father. Mother. Friend. Shepherd. Defender. Protector. Shelter. Provider. Wisdom. Peace. Merciful. Patient. Kind. Creator. Lion. Lamb. Savior. Messiah. Rescuer. Alpha and Omega. Beginning and End. Author. Potter. Vine. Bread of life. King of kings. Prince of Peace. Living Water. Light. Salvation. Door. Grace. Rock. All-knowing.

Depending on where I am at in life this changes for me. I have had to wrestle with some of His attributes more than others. But the more I know Him, the more I hunger for more of Him.

AND as I begin to recognize my Abba Father as loving, it is easier to see who I am to Him. He is a good Father wanting me to take time out of my day to chat with Him.

And in knowing Him I am finding me.

Dear Lord, I am finding more of You. Because of it I beginning to see how You see me. You are loving so Your eyes are patient, You are a Healer so You are mending my heart and mind. Lord, please reveal more of Yourself to us so that we may see us through Your eyes. In Jesus' name Amen.

with joy,

MJ