RULED OR LOVED?

In Snow White, the wicked queen asks her "Mirror, mirror, on the wall," who is the fairest of them all. Nowadays, we would likely ask our smartphones this question. Our looks may not be the most important thing, but it does determine whether others perceive us as attractive or not. What is considered beautiful shapes the way we look at ourselves in the mirror every morning.

In the quest for sexual validation and acceptance, we focus on aligning our appearance as closely as possible to the societal ideal. God created us wonderfully, but He did not have any human beauty standards in mind. The consequence is that our beauty ideals are generally unattainable, and the desired love and acceptance become distant. Instead, feelings of inadequacy and inner emptiness fill our hearts. Just as the inside of a container is inseparably linked to its outside, a person's soul and spirit are inseparably connected to their body. When we mistreat our bodies, we also harm our souls.

This connection also means that sexuality is not merely a physical act but a union of body, soul, and spirit between a man and a woman. We pass on our emotional wounds to our sexual partners and receive theirs, accumulating them with each partner change. Destructively practiced sexuality damages both body and soul, leaving a trail of devastation in our lives regarding self-worth, respect, trust in women/men, and relationship abilities.

God wants to heal us by filling our inner emptiness with His love. God gives us identity in Him and healthy sexuality. This requires us to be guided by Jesus, who works within us through the Holy Spirit. We then become part of His body and one spirit with Him, and we can see His glory when we look in a mirror. When the Holy Spirit works in us, we become more like Jesus and begin to shine from within—a beauty that is incomparable and unmatched.

Next Step: Look at your reflection in the mirror and ask God to show you how He sees you. Receive the assurance that you are extraordinary and the freedom this brings you.