Valuable Beyond Belief

“You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are.” ~Aslan

Have you ever doubted your value, especially in comparison to someone else? Maybe you had a friend whom you thought was prettier or a sister with a beautiful talent you desired or even a roommate whom all the men seemed drawn to when you couldn’t find even one. It’s so easy to get caught up in what we don’t possess that we can easily let the world convince us that we don’t have value as we are but that simply isn’t the truth. The Lord designed us intentionally with every freckle and dimple in the place He chose to put them. He also gave each of us unique and wonderful talents and skills that will serve us well in the tasks He has laid before us. Yet, I can’t help but find myself, at times, longing to trade some of my bits for what I considered greater about another. The Lord reminded me of this truth recently while watching “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” (C.S. Lewis) and I couldn’t get this one scene out of my mind. Now, typically I would say that a book is always better than a movie but I love the way this truth is interpreted on the screen, even if it isn’t true to the book.

In this scene, we see Lucy going through a book of spells inside the Magician’s house. She is looking for one spell in particular when she comes across a spell to make you “beautiful beyond the lot of mortals” which is very tempting to her. We know from earlier in the story, that Lucy dreams of being beautiful like Susan, even trying to mimic her sister’s movements in the hopes of being alluring only to be disgruntled when she sees her own reflection. The spell book shows her all she desires so she steals the page against the warning growl of Aslan much like when we chase after “fixes” that the Lord warns us against.

Later, we find Lucy back on the Dawn Treader, very much alone and tempted again by what she thinks her heart desires. It’s at this moment that she reads the incantation and finds that her own reflection has become that of her sister. She also finds that beyond the wardrobe is a glittering, sunlit lawn and a party. She enters the party and to her delight finds that all eyes are on her because she is now the most beautiful around. As she, Edmund and Peter take a picture Peter makes the comment that their parents will love a photo of all their children. It’s at this moment that Lucy realizes Susan is missing but when she asks her brother where she is she realizes that it is in fact Lucy, herself who doesn’t exist. She then begs Edmund to return to Narnia with her which to her horror He has never heard of either.

At this moment Lucy awakes to find her own reflection staring back from the mirror but she’s not alone because Aslan stands beside her and they have this exchange…

Lucy Pevensie: That was awful.

Aslan: But you chose it, Lucy.

Lucy Pevensie: I didn't mean to choose all of that. I just wanted to be beautiful like Susan. That's all.

Aslan: You wished yourself away, and with that, much more. Your brothers and sister wouldn't know Narnia without you, Lucy. You discovered it first, remember?

Lucy Pevensie: ...I'm so sorry.

Lucy Pevensie: I'm so sorry.

Aslan: You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are.

If I’m honest, I tear up over a lot of what Aslan says throughout the series because it’s direct truth from the Lord but this moment hits me a little bit differently. Lucy doesn’t see how she is the catalyst for the whole story and the ripple effect for change in Narnia. Also, in spite of all she has done she still wants to be desirable and finds discontentment in what she feels she is lacking. I think this speaks to the soul fear for a lot of women because so often we boil ourselves down to how the world does or does not view us which is often a reflection of how we view ourselves. We don’t realize the impact we can have on others so we feel insignificant in what we do. Yet, we know that the Lord doesn’t randomly throw out talents (or looks) because we know that Psalm 139 tells us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”. This tells me that we are created as the Lord intended though we can definitely use these gifts inappropriately.

Have you ever met a handsome man only to find him repulsive after a five minute conversation? Or better yet, have you ever met an average guy that becomes more and more attractive the more you get to know him, until he is the most attractive man in the room? I’ve said it before but attractive and good looking aren’t the same thing and Satan is real good at distracting us with trying to fix the outside instead of working on the inside. In my opinion, Lucy grew to be even more beautiful than Susan with much of her beauty coming from who she was as a person but Lucy can’t see that.

I think the same can be said of our experiences, talents and skills. I have a dear friend who’s story has had an incredible impact on those around her, including me, yet, so often she fears that she is viewed as not having done enough to be worthy of the ministry the Lord has given her but those fears come from her comparison to the world and not from the impact of her life. Just like Lucy, she doesn’t necessarily see the reality of who the Lord has made her to be and she tries to run from the truth that doesn’t make sense to her. Truth is still truth even if it doesn’t make sense to us.

I pray that the Lord will clearly show you how valuable you are to His plan and why you are precious in His sight. Don’t let comparison cause you to wish yourself away and like Aslan said, “Don’t run from who you are.”