Reflecting on Your Identity
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:14, ESV).
Sarah had a chaotic home life. Her parents divorced when she was young, and her mom always seemed to find a new man each week.
Sarah dealt with these changes by eating. Food was the one constant in her life that never forgot her or belittled her. But her eating habits took a toll on her body and Sarah was bullied in middle school for her weight.
So, she did whatever it took to lose weight. She started by watching her calorie intake, but it quickly became an obsession. How few calories could she eat while still allowing her body to function normally?
It wasn’t until Sarah’s mom found her web history filled with anorexia websites that she realized Sarah needed help. She immediately got her daughter an appointment with a therapist who specialized in eating disorders.
At first, Sarah went to the sessions and didn’t answer the therapist’s questions. Instead, they played board games and puzzles. But slowly, she opened herself up to the older woman, sharing her pain and the questions that plagued her. “Why am I like this?” she asked.
The counselor handed Sarah a mirror. “Do you see yourself clearly?” She asked.
Sarah nodded, and the counselor handed her a second mirror that was broken. “How about now?”
“I look distorted.”
The counselor nodded. “Eating disorders can distort what you see in the mirror. You’re still you, but the mirror you’ve been using is broken. I can help you if you’ll let me.”
God, sometimes, there are things in my life that distort the way I see myself. Please show me who I am, help me understand that I’m your child, fearfully and wonderfully made. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
