For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

Ponder It.
What do you think are your flaws?
What would others say are your flaws?
What would God say are your flaws? Are you sure?

Receive It.
We all see flaws in ourselves…or in someone else or a situation or pretty much anything else in our lives. The flaws seem to stand out to us, screaming “Look at me!,” calling attention to everyone and everything around us. Surely no one can miss it. Everyone sees it and it overrides everything else about us. At least that’s what it feels like much of the time. We focus on it. When we fixate on it, we miss out on the way it is incorporated into the overall picture.

I sat in a chapel and listened to a recorded voice teach me about twelve gorgeous stained glass windows, each one representing a son of Jacob. The recorded voice pointed out highlights that I might not have noticed otherwise, especially with the limited time I had. One in particular intrigued me. There was a small piece of clear glass among the gorgeous colors. It wasn’t large, centered, or anything that would make it prominent. But it had a story behind it. Apparently, the windows had been damaged in a war. The artist agreed to repair the windows, restoring them to their original condition. Except…he wanted a reminder of what had happened. He wanted people to remember that this set of windows was slightly different. They had made it through a battle. They had been changed, just as we are changed. The flaw was a testimony to the journey it had taken. It was proof that life changes us, but we can overcome.

Our flaws are part of us, telling stories we wouldn’t otherwise tell. They’re often not as large and prominent as we think. They are there as a mark of our experiences or the need for a change, but we are not whole or authentic without them. We might not have them forever, but for now, they are part of us. Instead of focusing on “that one flaw,” we can take a step back and see the big picture—maybe not through God’s eyes, but perhaps we can open our eyes and hearts enough to catch a glimpse of the possibility He sees.

Live It.
Place a mark on the back of your hand, using a permanent marker or ink pen. Just an “X” or circle or other basic shape. Keep it on your hand the entire day. Each time you see it, remind yourself that you can let go of the all the flaws you assume about yourself and trust God to take care of the ones He wants to work on right now.