You Are a Miracle

“For You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well.” (Ps. 139:13-14 ESV)

The oft-quoted verses above from Psalm 139 adorn a small wooden plaque that hangs in my daughter’s room. I found the sign at a thrift store when she was small. In a burst of crafting inspiration, I purchased the plain sign and attached crocheted flowers made by my mother-in-law, a beautiful picture of God weaving us together, just like the strands of yarn.

That plaque has hung on her bedroom wall for over eight years now, my constant prayer that my little girl can see herself as the miracle she is. My daughter turned ten this summer. New research finds that girls’ confidence takes a dramatic drop around the age of ten in comparison with their male peers. My daughter is a force of nature. She is kind and fierce. She is bold, creative, and outspoken. I see so much potential and light in her, and it pains me to think that could change as she enters her tween and teen years.

I didn’t need to read the research to know women struggle with confidence. I hear it in the conversations I have with many of the women in my life. We lack confidence in our appearance and abilities. We question and second-guess our choices. We compare ourselves to others, blind to our own exceptional qualities.

Why do we doubt our worth as women when the Bible shares verses like Psalm 139? Why do we lose confidence as we enter adolescence? I can’t say for sure, but my hunch is that when you live in a world, and often a church, that treats you as a second-class citizen, dismisses your gifts, and makes constant remarks on your appearance, it may negatively impact your sense of worth.

While the world and patriarchal faith structures may not value women, Jesus treated women with respect and dignity in a time and culture when women had little agency of their own. Instead of ridiculing and chastising the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4 ESV) and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11 ESV), Jesus listened to them and reminded them of their worth. This was a radical act in the Middle East in the first century.

When you question your value, look to Jesus and be reminded of who and whose you are.

If no one has told you lately, you are a miracle. You began as two cells and now are made of around 37.2 trillion cells working in harmony to keep you alive—your heart beats, and you breathe without even thinking about it. Your muscles, bones, and tendons work in unison to help you walk, run, stretch to reach an object on a high shelf, or hold the hand of a loved one in pain.

Women’s bodies and souls are incredibly complex. With its monthly fluctuation in hormones that prepare our bodies to be carriers of life, the endocrine system alone is mind-blowing. We are nurturers, listeners, and safe shoulders to cry on. Our bellies and breasts stretch and swell with life and nourishment. We kiss bandaged knees and cry out at injustice in our streets.

If you are struggling with low self-worth today, remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You cannot find your worth in the width of your hips or the shape of your thighs. You won’t find it in everything you strive to do or the titles that follow your name. You are worthy simply because you are God’s creation. He has gifted you to do great and miraculous things in the world. He has created you uniquely to be an agent of good and of the gospel.

If you’ve lost your confidence along the way, pick it back up, dust it off, and put it somewhere you can see it every day. Let’s show ourselves and out daughters what it means to live fully into who God created us to be.

Lord, you created me uniquely and gifted me specifically. Please give me the boldness to live into your vision for my life. Please give me the humility to give thanks to you in all my accomplishments. Please give me the strength and courage to fight for my sense of worth in a world that devalues me. Please help me to be a light to the next generation of women following you. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 ESV)

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8 ESV)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

Do you struggle with knowing your worth? Spend some time in reflection and journal about where self-doubt, comparison, and self-loathing appear in your life. Ask God to enter those areas and show you how he sees you.

Reach for More

We all have women in our lives who inspire and encourage us. Celebrate the women in your life by sharing how you see God using them to be a light to the world and use the hashtag #tgtreachformore to celebrate together.

Lindsay Hufford is a small-scale farmer, home educator, chicken chaser, kitchen dancer, and mediocre knitter. Her favorite things include spending time with her family, exploring the natural world, reading, eating spicy food, and singing loudly in the car (to the embarrassment of her children). Lindsay believes sharing our stories will change the world. She writes about farming, homeschooling, faith, mental health, sobriety, and living an unconventional life. You can follow her adventures at peckandpetalfarm.com.