God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. (NIV)

Dinner time is always an adventure with a toddler at the table. Sometimes as I go to dig into my food, Judah will tell me, "Mommy, you no like dat." To which I try to explain to him the concept of autonomy - that I get to decide what food tastes good to me, and he gets to decide that for himself, too.

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But what is true for food, I think we have translated to other areas of our lives, as well. Culture tells us that we get to determine what is the standard for good in this life, and I think it's seeped into how we see ourselves, as well. WE want to be in charge of determining what is good or not in this world, not God. And if I deem something in my life is not good, society gives me full authority to change it.

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But last week we reflected on God's authority as our Creator. As Maker, he gets to decide what is a good creation. And, because we know God has perfect wisdom, we can be confident that what he creates IS good. When we trust God as the perfect Creator, we can be certain that we too are a good creation.

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In Genesis 1, God repeatedly pronounces the things he makes to be good: He surveys the beautiful land and the majestic seas, and he declares them good. Like a potter stepping back from his work, it's as though he murmurs, beautiful. But he doesn't stop there. He fashions around 400,000 species of plants and calls them good. He organizes life by the sun, moon, and stars. Then, he makes creatures and blesses them. Like an artist coming up for air from a flurried and focused session of creating, he is pleased with his work. He seems to smile, declaring it all good.

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But then, he has another idea - a masterpiece. "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness..." (v. 26). This creation will uniquely express and reflect the character and image of God. "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (v. 27). And then, God blessed them. He did not create mankind with disappointment or derision. He made us, declared we were very good, and even gave us a special blessing.

Sometimes my toddler is skeptical of dinner, but last night he declared emphatically, "It's seriously so delicious!" This is God looking on mankind - it's not just good, it's very good! But friend, is that how you think of yourself? Does your self-talk reflect the words your Creator has spoken over you? Or are you believing a lie? Do you look in your mirror and remember that you were fashioned, formed, and declared very good?

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I challenge you to dig deeper here - I'm not talking about striving to be a healthier person or feeling convicted about how you care for your body, mind, and spirit. Those are good things to care about and grow in! I'm talking about the deepest part of your soul - the way you speak to yourself when no one hears. The way you see your struggles - be they related to body image or even to a lack of confidence in your abilities, personality, or giftings. Does how you see the way God made you inspire self-hatred and frustration, or does it evoke praise, thanking God for making you very good?

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Perhaps you've never realized these are God's thoughts for you, his creation, because it is true that sin comes into the story just a couple chapters later and tarnishes this very good creation. However, the rest of Scripture makes it clear, that does not change the way the Father feels about his children. Any parent knows that disappointment and grief over our children's choices do not impact the Father's love. In your Creator's eyes, you are still very good, even if what you've done is not.

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What would it look like for you to trust today that God wasn't asleep on the job when he fashioned you in your mother's womb? What if you believed in your gut that you have been made with purpose and intention and delight by a good and perfect Creator? How would you speak to yourself differently? How would you speak over your kids, your partner, your friends? How would you walk into a room, if you really believed you had been created not as a mistake, but to be a blessing to the world?

Father God, thank you for making me according to your very good design! Forgive me for those moments when I despise your creation. I confess now the areas of my life that I don't trust you as my Maker who knows what is good. Help me to see what is true, and thank you, Jesus, for making a way for me to put off my sin nature and instead walk in my very good design by the power of your Spirit in me, your new creation! Amen!