Faith in a Time of Pandemic – You are Created in God’s Image

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 6:23 am by Bruce Epperly

Faith in a Time of Pandemic – You are Created in God’s Image 2020-04-07T06:23:58-04:00 Bruce Epperly

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

XXIV.
YOU ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE
(4/7)
“God created humankind in God’s image, male and female God created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

A dear friend and colleague of over three decades tells me how her family berated her as a child. Although she was quite winsome and intelligent, her parents bombarded her with messages: “You’re not smart, you’re not athletic, you’re not beautiful. You’ll never amount to anything.” She has succeeded beyond her wildest expectations – she is healthy, creative, successful, and lovely – but sometimes she still hears that voice of negativity. She hears her weakness and not her strength, her ugliness and not her beauty. Then she reminds herself that she is God’s child and that any negative self-judgment is false. She is created in God’s image. She is everything she needs to be to live out God’s vision for her. I can relate to my friend’s experience.

There is something of that voice in all of us. I must confess that given my parents’ low self-esteem that I struggled to be good enough. Part of my quest to excel was to prove that I was as talented as some of my professional colleagues and grad school classmates, who received more attention and encouragement than I did. I wanted people to see that I was as good as they were. I have come to realize that now whatever I do reflects joy and creativity and I don’t have to prove anything, except let my gifts flow. I have realized that just as I am in all my fallibility and limitations, I am God’s beloved child and can do great things. I can live out, without thinking myself better than anyone, the chant popularized by Jesse Jackson, as he spoke to youth mired in poverty and racism, “I am somebody!” And, so are you! You are somebody. You are God’s child, female, male, transgender, or non-binary.

Let me tell you God’s truth. You are created in God’s image. God loves you. God has given you gifts no one in the universe has. In this time of pandemic, let us celebrate the image of God in our lives and in the lives of everyone we meet.

As we midwife Gods’ image in us, let us midwife the holiness of others. Let us bring forth God’s presence in everyone we meet.
+++

Let me see the divine in me and in all creation. Let God’s beauty flow in my life to everyone I meet. Amen.

+++
Bruce Epperly is a Cape Cod pastor, professor and author of over 50 books, including FAITH IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC and GOD ONLINE: A MYSTIC’S GUIDE TO THE INTERNET

Previous Post

April 6, 2020

Faith in a Time of Pandemic - The Center is Everywhere

Next Post

April 7, 2020 The Seven Last Words of Jesus: A Progressive Vision

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews The Adventurous Lectionary Uncategorized

Select a Month November 2026 October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 December 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz