In His Image

“We are His image bearers and witnesses to others of His good love for us.”

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” Genesis 1:26

As a middle/high schooler, I remember vividly wondering what God was thinking when He made me. I was weird and awkward. I didn’t know how to behave quietly and I laughed at all the wrong times. I got too passionate about all the things and scared away any potential friends. My mom was worried about me because of my lack of social skills.

He must have made a mistake. I would pray at night that He would please change me. Into someone who knew how to talk to people. Someone who fit in. Someone with perfect hair and clothes, and lots of friends. I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be recreated into the image of all the popular girls at school.

Spoiler alert, He didn’t respond to my request in the way I had hoped. Instead, He showed me how I am made in HIS image (this took about two or three decades of work… and counting). Our God is a passionate God who cannot be stuffed into a box and asked to behave accordingly. He gave me this gift too. He sees the people that others pass over because they’re kind of weird. I see these people too, a lot because I was/am one of them. He has big feelings of love, compassion. He’s slow to anger (and still teaching me this particular skill). I have big feelings too.

I am made in the image of my creator. And so are you. All the personality traits that you may feel make you an outcast, or just plain not fit in with the rest of the people or the church, are exactly your giftings given to you by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus, your savior and creator. They may not be quite polished or refined yet, but when we trust and obey He will fulfill in us all that He created us to be. We are His image bearers and witnesses to others of His good love for us.

Action steps:

• What traits do you have that mirror God? Make a list! 

• Remember, when you’re experiencing emotions, God experiences emotions too. He is able to refine you and polish you into His image!

Written by Barbara, mom of 4 and an imperfect image bearer