The Mirror Has Changed, But I Am Still Me

Some mornings, I pause longer than usual in front of the mirror. The reflection staring back at me doesn’t quite match the one in my memoryimage0.png. The skin is softer, the lines deeper, the hair lighter—or grayer. I sometimes wonder, When did this happen?

It’s in those moments that I have to remind myself—my worth is not held in the smoothness of my skin or the strength of my hands. My worth has never been in my appearance at all. It has always been held in the One who formed me, knew me, and has been faithful through every stage of my life.

I majored in fine art in college, and I remember one assignment very vividly. I can’t recall the exact instructions, but I created a Prisma Color and pastel drawing of a young woman, removing an outward mask of her young face to reveal an old woman underneath. Odd as it may seem, I was trying to show how a younger person could feel aged inside, hiding pain or burdens beneath a youthful exterior.

Now, when I think about that piece, I see it in reverse. I may look older on the outside with signs of the hardness and pain that life brings sometimes, but inside, I’m still the younger version of myself—hopeful, curious, and alive.

Scripture reminds us:

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” — Isaiah 46:4

We are not “fading.” we are seasoned. Every wrinkle tells a story of God’s faithfulness. Every change in our reflection is a reminder that our bodies are temporary, but our souls are eternal.

Psalm 92:14 encourages us that even in our later years, “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” This means we are not done. We are not past our usefulness. God still has fruit for us to bear—wisdom to share, prayers to pray, love to give, and joy to spread.

And when the mirror feels like a stranger, I think of 2 Corinthians 4:16:

“Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

Our bodies change, but our spirit—anchored in Christ—grows stronger, more beautiful, and more radiant with every passing year.

So today, if the mirror makes you pause, remember: The reflection may change, but the real you—the one known and loved by God—remains. Your worth is eternal, your purpose still unfolding, and your beauty more than skin-deep.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to see myself through Your eyes. Remind me that I am still Your beloved, still Your masterpiece, even as the years leave their marks. Let my heart grow more beautiful with every day You give me, and let me reflect Your light more than my own image. Amen.