Happy. Funny. Likeable. Loving. Kind. Energetic. Unique. Honest. Whole. Truthful. Confident. Brave. Fearless. Creative. Caring. Positive. Encouraging. Focused. Dreamer. Beautiful. Forgiven. Inspiring.

Would you use any of these words to describe yourself?

When you look in the mirror, do you see the beautiful woman God created and loves deeply? Do you speak kindly to yourself? Or are the words you speak over your life much harsher?

So many women struggle with their thought life. What we repeatedly think, we often begin to believe. Over time, those thoughts can quietly shape how we see ourselves, our worth, our purpose, and even how we believe God sees us. The difficult part is that many of those thoughts are simply not true. They are lies we have carried for years — lies rooted in shame, guilt, fear, comparison, regret, disappointment, or painful experiences.

It’s springtime, and beauty is coming alive all around us. Flowers are blooming. Trees once bare are full again. Everything feels renewed and colorful. Spring brings fresh energy, fresh hope, and the reminder that new growth is possible.

But sometimes it’s easier to see beauty in nature than it is to see beauty in ourselves.

Maybe when you look in the mirror, you don’t see someone beautiful or worthy. Maybe you see brokenness, guilt weighing heavily on your heart, shame from the past, exhaustion from carrying too much for too long, or feelings of being unlovable, unforgiven, unseen, or not enough.

I understand those feelings. I’ve had nights filled with tears, tasting the salt of them as they rolled down my face. I’ve wrestled with regrets, questioned decisions, and wished I had taken different paths or risks. Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. And when we live with regret, it can be difficult to speak kindly to our own hearts.

But one of the beautiful gifts of getting older is gaining perspective.

As I sit quietly to pray and journal, I can now see how faithful God has been throughout my journey. Even in the moments when I felt lost, afraid, ashamed, uncertain, or broken — He was there. He never abandoned me. He gently guided me, protected me, redirected my steps, softened my heart, and slowly changed the way I thought about myself.

God has a beautiful way of taking the painful pieces of our lives and using them for good.

The experiences I once wanted to hide have become part of the story He now uses to help others heal. The broken pieces of my life were not wasted. They have helped shape me into the woman I am today — a woman with compassion, understanding, humility, and a deeper love for others.

They have also helped me better understand the women I walk beside and serve.

Today, when I look in the mirror, I can finally speak kindly to myself. Not because my life has been perfect, but because I have learned that my past does not define me. My mistakes are not my identity. My painful seasons did not destroy me; they helped grow me.

God restores.

He restores hearts.
He restores hope.
He restores identity.
He restores broken pieces and creates something beautiful from them.

Each one of us has a story. Your story matters. The very places where you feel broken may become the places where someone else finds hope because you chose to share honestly and courageously.

So as spring unfolds around you, remember this:

You are still growing.
You are still becoming.
You are still blooming.

And the next time you look in the mirror, instead of focusing on the flaws, the regrets, or the lies you once believed, see the beautifully restored woman looking back at you. Speak kindly to her.

WORDS

W- Worthy

O – One day at a time

R – Restored

D – Designed by God

S – Surrounded by love