Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. // Mark 8:25

Let Him look at you.

These words spoken by our retreat speaker, not to only me, but the many women who were attending this retreat, caused a familiar discomfort in my wounded heart. I slightly shuttered at the idea of allowing Jesus, upon the altar, to look at me.

Due to losing trust in people who I thought cared about me, I would tend to close up and assume that I didn't want to be seen as I truly was.

Unfortunately, this wound crept into my ever-growing relationship with Jesus. For too long I would come to Him with a filter on, thinking that I had to clean up my act in order to be loved by Him.

In today’s Gospel Reading, we read about Jesus healing the blind man: “Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly” (Mark 8:25).

My lack of vision was restored when I drew my gaze to Him on the altar. I truthfully told Him, God, I’m a mess. In His beautiful gentleness, He reassured me, No, you're not a mess. You're My daughter.

Sister, He’s not asking for a clean-up version of you. He wants all your brokenness, weakness, struggles, quirks, strengths, and everything in between.

The qualities about yourself that you see as burdens are the delights of the Creator’s heart.

He’s not here to fix what you think is wrong with you, but instead to redeem your heart and draw it back to His loving gaze.

The Love that you’re created for is always ready to restore your sight, so that you will know who you are in His eyes.

God, we love You. Please remind us who we are as Your beloved daughters. Help us to root ourselves in Your love. Amen.