Brace-Face

Have you ever been sitting in the dentist’s chair and the sweet dentist or assistant is trying to carry on a conversation with you?  You would love to be able to communicate with them, except their hands are in your mouth and all that comes out is, “Garble, adkeiashk mmmphey.” (Which translated is: “I’m doing fine today. How are you?”)  Now, I know that they really do have the best intentions of trying to build a relationship with you, but truthfully, all they are doing is making their job harder and risking getting bite marks on their fingers!

Well, I had one of those experiences this morning! It was a pretty inspired moment, until I realized that I might as well not even try.  My orthodontist was trying to explain the fact that my overbite, like most adults, was a pretty permanent situation, but that he was going to try to adjust it through a gradual process.  His exact words were, “We’ll just have to see what God has left in you.”  The Lord spoke to me at that moment and said, “I haven’t stopped working in your heart yet, so why should your teeth be any different!” Sadly, I was unable to share this revelation with sweet Dr. Davis, but I have all of you to share with!

Have you ever felt that you were such a hopeless case? Hate to break it to you, but YOU ARE! On our own, we are nothing! Our lives are meaningless, our relationships are empty, and our efforts are pointless…that is, without God in the midst of it.  We live in a world that is constantly promoting self-worth and self-esteem…which actually sounds pretty good to us girls! But we must take a step back and analyze the meaning behind the promotion of all things “SELF.”  Now, you must understand that I definitely don’t mean that you have to live a life where you constantly degrade yourself, your looks, your body or personality, but instead of looking inward to find our identity, we must look upward.  God has a plan for a victorious life, and it doesn’t include “self-esteem.”  Instead, we must get used to the idea that we are nothing, and God is EVERYTHING.  When we have “God-esteem” then our own wants and needs become a little less important.

Going back to my experience at the dentist, I have many days that I loathe the fact that I have to wear braces!  I look at myself in the mirror and see a 12-year-old, silly-looking, pipsqueak, brace-face, little girl looking back.  (Sometimes I’m dramatic…it happens!) But as I was driving home from my appointment this morning the Lord showed me that the same process that I am going through with my teeth, He is using in our lives.  Sometimes we feel like the pain we are going through is not worth it, or that the humiliation of having a burden placed upon our lives is too much for us to bear.  Some days it may even seem like it’s not even doing any good!!! But God is the Great Physician (or the Great Dentist in this case) and He knows the end from the beginning!  He can see His creation becoming more and more like He intended every day. 

So the next time you think that the test or trail you are facing is too much to bear, just remember that God has a plan.  He is shaping and molding you into a stronger woman, one that He can use!  When you wake up every morning, do it with a purpose—a purpose to be more like Him, and less like yourself!

Lots of love,

Natalie