When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see your strengths or your weaknesses? Do you see beauty or do you notice every imperfection? Do you see power or insecurity?
I must admit that for most of my life, I have only seen the worst in myself. I’ve stared at my reflection and seen only weaknesses, flaws, and failures. I’ve looked at my face in the mirror and wondered what good qualities people saw in me because I sure couldn’t find it. What was appealing about me? I’m nothing spectacular. I’m not particularly handsome or athletic. My words aren’t all that dynamic or eloquent. I’m not overly social or charismatic. So, what do people see in me? Am I just a fraud? What if they actually knew how pathetic I really am?
But, I know I am not the only one who has felt this way. If you are reading this and have had similar thoughts, please know that you are not alone. Even some of the greatest heroes of history have had these sort of thoughts. In fact, in Judges 6, we read of an angel coming to a man named Gideon and saying, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12, ESV). Now, you would think that a greeting like that would be reserved for a great warrior and leader, right? Well, at this point in time, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Gideon was actively cowering and hiding. In fact, he is so cowardly and insecure that his response is, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” To put it simply, “Lord, I’m not good enough. What do you see in me??” Gideon is being called to lead Israel to a great victory over an oppressive enemy, and his response is to question and doubt. All he sees in himself are weaknesses and shortcomings, failures and flaws. He simply does not see what God sees in him.
Fast forward to the end of the story, and Gideon has gone into battle with a tiny force of 300 men against a multitude, defeated and chased off the enemy army, and saved Israel. He has become a great warrior and respected leader. He has truly become a “mighty man of valor.” This is what God saw from the very beginning.
So today ask yourself, what does God see in me that I don’t see in myself? When you look in the mirror and see weakness, does he see strength? When you see insecurity, does he see boldness? When you see flaws, does he see beauty? Throughout history, God has seen greatness in people that they couldn’t see in themselves. He saw a powerful liberator in the stuttering Moses. He saw a great king in the little boy David. He saw great parents in a lowly carpenter and his fiancée. He saw the ability to change the world in a couple of simple fishermen. So, what does God see in you today?