Self-Esteem via Grace and Beauty

Original Artwork by Dayna Bickham, Photo by Dayna Bickham

We Are More Alike Than You Know

I love writing, and I love speaking, but teaching is a whole separate animal. I love it, I am just much newer to it and have so much more to learn there. I teach a class of some very beautiful and vibrantly different girls who range in age from eight to twelve. Some are outgoing, and some are  quiet and reserved.

Each girl may be different, but we all share the same struggles. As I stood before a class of twelve girls and two adults, I shared my struggle with accepting who God made me to be and watched as the message hit home with each of them. I wanted them to esteem themselves as the beauties they are, and embrace the grace of God instead of the world's version of self-esteem. 

I used art, a mirror and scripture to do it. 

The Lesson Breakdown

1) Design- We are planned with design in mind. God knew us before we were in our mother's womb. We are miracles of design and creation.  (Jeremiah 1:5 Psalms 139:14)

2) Create- Since God is THE Creator and we are made in His image, we are also creative beings made to do good works. (Genesis 1, Eph 2:10) 

3) Appreciate- That beauty is not defined by a mirror or popular opinion, but by what God made (each and every one of us) and by what is in our hearts. (Proverbs 31:30, 1 Samuel 16:7) 

4) Give Grace- Finally, I wanted those girls to begin to understand that grace is not just something God gives us, but something we can give ourselves. When we stand in front of that mirror and say "my teeth are too far apart", or "I don't like my hair", or "I am to fat" then we tell ourselves (God's creations) that we are not good enough. We would not tell someone else this lie, so why do we so easily believe it when we say it to ourselves?

When we give ourselves grace to make mistakes, to be different, to be ourselves, then the self-doubt and harsh lies become less important and the grace and love of God can become more real to us. After all, grace  is an extension of God's love for us, and His love is His character. Since we need to become more like Him, why not start off with a touch of grace? 

True Masterpieces 

Now I am no painter. I cannot (on most days) draw a circle, much less paint. But I wanted the girls to experience drawing/painting a self-portrait and seeing themselves in new ways. So after watching clever videos on YouTube I was able to walk them through a simple and fun way to teach the kids how to draw a self-portrait. I have to say the outcomes were better than I could have expected. 

Each girl focused on what was honest and true about them, not the negative things that they could have focused on. Each one created portraits of themselves that may never hang in galleries, but for all their childish brushstrokes and cartoon-esque technique they created moments of creative affirmation and embraced themselves as the masterpieces God designed. 

My self-portrait came out looking more like Heather Locklear than I meant, but I am okay with that. There is grace (and some humor- don't ask what the dots are- I have no idea!) in that. But I do smile. I do have great blue eyes and I am beautiful to my Father. This is the grace I can give myself. 

The girls gave themselves some grace when it came to their artistic abilities, but that small lesson makes room for them to grow in grace as they grow in the Lord. For me, this was the main objective of the project: to see ourselves and our abilities as masterpieces in progress: to embrace grace and trust in God's design for our self-esteem and not what the world says about beauty. We are well on our way. What about you? 

Join the Conversation

In what way can you give yourself some grace today? 

Subscribe

Like what you read? Want to read more? Sign up for our FREE newsletter and never miss another blog post. If you sign up today you will receive a link to my FREE children's eBook,The Gardener and the Sapling: A Modern Parable, your's to keep and share with your loved ones. Join our mailing list and you will get exclusive email content that never makes the blog. Sign up today by clicking the link below.

Subscribe to our newsletter

No More Lies: Part 8: "I'm a Nobody"

The Life of a Creative

You may have noticed I have written a book. This undertaking was a big deal for me. Nerve racking only begins to cover the whole process. If you are creative, you may understand what this is like. The moments before you "ship" your creation are exciting. 

The anticipation builds and the nerves do too. Then there is the moment you "reveal" your great work to the world. Will people "get" it? Will people "get" you? 

Then, you begin to doubt. You doubt yourself, your ability, your calling, and your talent. That no-man's land between shipping your work and people consuming (buying) your work wreaks havoc on your confidence. 

In comes lie #8: "I'm no one special, so who would listen/read/watch me?" 

Counteracting the Lie

This lie is hideous. If we believe it, creative person or not, then we run the risk of denying our value. The value of any one thing (or person) is not in what someone charges for it, but in what someone is willing to pay for it. God paid the ultimate price. He laid all of creation, the very universe, on the line and gave his only son (John 3:16) to save us. Our value was that high. 

So I must believe I am who God says I am.  

• Psalms 139:14 says I am "fearfully and wonderfully made"

• Genesis 1:26 says I am created in the image of God

• Deuteronomy 28:13 says I am the "head and not the tail" 

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP) says I am the "righteousness of God in Christ"

• Luke 4:18 says I am called to preach, lay hands on the sick, and set the captive free

• Matthew 21:21 says I will be able to do what Christ did and more

O Wretched Worm That I Am... 

There is a part of me that remembers that verse in Matthew 19 that says "there is none good but God" and I am immediately down on myself again. But, and this is something we would do well to remember, the enemy knows the Bible too. He will always lie with a bit of the truth mixed in. 

Tricky little demon. 

The whole passage is about God being holy and our lack of goodness to meet him unless we give up ourselves and follow Jesus. 

When I know this I can become free from the lie "I am not valuable".

The thing that gives me value was the price God paid (his son's sacrifice) and the Holy Spirit living on the inside of me. 

The same Spirit that hovered over the face of the earth to create (Genesis 1:2) now lives on the inside of me. Creating newness and inspiring me to create too. He is the One who brings life (1 Peter 3:18 and John 16: 12-14) and He is the One who calls to the deepest parts of me.(1 Corinthians 2:10) He knows me like no one else. He sees enough value in me to choose me to dwell in. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

My Prayer

Father, forgive me for believing a lie. Help me become rooted and grounded in your truth. I am special, because I am yours. You are my Father, I am your child. You have called me out of darkness and into the light. Let your light shine on all the ugly parts of me that cling to the darkness: the lies that keep me held back from fully experiencing the life you called me to. Father I believe, now help my unbelief. Strengthen me and make me sure of you. I place my trust in you. In Jesus Name, the name above all names, in whom we have VICTORY this very day, Amen. 

Join the Conversation

Have you ever struggled with a lie about your own personal value to people or to God? 

Subscribe to our newsletter