Tailor Made: The Authentic You

The authentic self is soul made visible. — Sarah Ban Breathnach 1

We are the most at ease when no one is watching. We are free to be ourselves and act the way we feel at the moment when no one is there to judge us.

When I took my daughter, Holly, to her first concert when she was six years old, we had to wait in the lobby before the doors opened to the arena. There were hundreds of people standing around waiting to take their seats. Music was playing through the speakers, and her favorite song came on. Holly began dancing like no one else was in the room, even though all eyes were on her. She did not care what any other person in that room thought. I sat there mesmerized by her freedom, and I sensed the Lord saying to me at that moment, This is how I designed every single one of My sons and daughters to be — secure enough to be completely at ease with themselves.

Holly is still like that to this day. She has a confidence that is attractive, and she is secure in who she is because she feels loved and affirmed by her earthly parents and her heavenly Father. We should all take a leaf out of her book.

From Mess to Masterpiece

For years, a tug-of-war took place in my heart and mind. I nearly gave in to Satan’s lies, believing I was insignificant and worthless. But one day I met Jesus, and I allowed Him to come into those broken spaces and hold my hand through the process and show me what it truly meant when He said,

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. — John 10:10

When I handed over control to Him and gave Him my life, I did as He asked.

Jesus was so kind to walk me patiently down this road. He began shedding the hurt and hardened layers of my heart ever so gently, so as to not overwhelm me. And as I drew close to Him, He drew close to me (James 4:8). I discovered a friend who truly is closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24), and He has never left me or forsaken me (Hebrews 13:5). His purpose is for me to know Him intimately, and through that relation- ship, to discover who I am. And I did! I discovered that I am a daughter of the King of kings. I have been fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). I was predestined before the foundation of the world to do good works, which He had prepared in advance for me to do (Ephesians 2:10). He trans- formed my brokenness so that the world can see how He truly gives beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3). He turned my sorrow into joy (Jeremiah 31:13), and He took me out of slavery and made me an heir with Him (Galatians 4:7).

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Understanding my tailor-made design has helped me become a better wife, mother, and friend, and my life is truly abundant beyond measure. Is it perfect? No! But it sure is a masterpiece. If I had continued listening to Satan’s “one-size-fits-all” lies, I likely would have failed at marriage, been filled with anger, taken it out on my children, and continued struggling with my eating disorder — which I could have passed down to my daughter. But because of the grace of Jesus and the alterations He made as I yielded my life to Him, I continue to marvel at how beautiful my life truly is. Were it not for Jesus, I would never have been able to write this book, because He tailored every chapter and altered every paragraph to make it a couture, one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Our lives are waiting to be revealed on life’s catwalk. The world needs to see the magnificent design He has been making in you. God intends your life to inspire others when they look at how magnificently you have been designed.

You reflect the unrivaled work of your Master Tailor.

The labels you now choose to wear should reflect the Designer who created you.

The first word ever spoken over me at birth was the word special. It was God’s truth over my life. The world tried to convince me otherwise, and I spent my childhood and young adulthood trying to rediscover the first label I ever received. Special is a word I used to resent, because I felt anything but special. Years later, as I look at the definition of special, I see that it has several meanings — including “better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual; exceptionally good or pleasant; belonging specifically to a particular person or place; designed or organized for a particular person, purpose, or occasion.” 2 This is exactly who we are to God.

We are special. We are one-of-a-kind, and we have been designed to belong to Him. He has created us with an extraordinary purpose.

When we understand that this is the core of who we are, we can then live from a secure place. We can truly discover the secret to who God designed us to be.

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