Reflections of Him – Stuart Segall

I still, almost daily, serve those who carry a poor or unhealthy self-image. Since we were made in His image, one of the most powerful ways to rediscover and feel that truth is to serve and uplift others, just as the Lion did, and still does. When you bless and esteem others, the next time you see your own reflection, I have a hunch you’ll be surprised by what you see.

Why? Good question. If we were made in His image, then every act of compassion, every moment of grace extended, is a return to that likeness.

There’s something quietly transformative about serving others, especially those burdened by a wounded sense of self. In that daily offering, whether through a word of encouragement, a gesture of dignity, or simply the gift of presence, you become a mirror not only for them, but for yourself.

This evening, I visited a lonely man who works at a pet food manufacturing plant. He lives with a learning disability and schizophrenia. His childhood was traumatic, and he still wears those wounds on his shoulders. Some coworkers had teased him cruelly, calling him names like “retard.” He was angry and deeply hurt.

I shared with him my own story—how I was often picked on as a child for being small, vulnerable, and different. I’ve struggled, and still do, with learning challenges, reading difficulties, and keeping my attention focused. He was surprised that I could empathize so deeply. He saw tears in my eyes, and his anger began to soften. I told him how I’ve learned to use my own struggles to serve others, and in that moment, I saw him lift out of his slump.

The act of lifting someone else, of seeing their worth even when they cannot, begins to reshape your own reflection. It’s as if the soul remembers its original design, the imprint of divine intention.

If we were made in His image, then every act of compassion, every moment of grace extended, is a return to that likeness. The Lion—majestic, gentle, fierce in love—did not elevate Himself through dominance, but through sacrifice and service.

To follow in those footsteps is to walk toward your truest self. And when you do, something shifts. The next time you catch your reflection, it may not be the weary caregiver or the overlooked servant you expect to see. Instead, you might glimpse something regal, something radiant, something that echoes the Lion Himself.

It’s not vanity—it’s revelation. The kind that comes not from looking inward with judgment, but outward with love. And in that moment, you may realize that the image you were made in has never left you. It’s simply been waiting to be revealed through the way you bless others.

Isaiah 58:10–11:

If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.

Spend yourselves” conveys a deep personal investment, giving not just resources but one’s energy and presence to uplift the hungry and oppressed.

Your light will rise in the darkness” evokes a transformation of the soul, where acts of mercy illuminate even the bleakest moments.

The Lord will guide you always” promises enduring spiritual direction and strength, even in harsh conditions (“sun-scorched land”).

This passage doesn’t just affirm the power of serving others; it reveals the divine reciprocity of it. When you pour yourself out for those who feel forgotten or diminished, your own soul is nourished, your own reflection brightened. It’s the Lion’s way: strength through sacrifice, radiance through compassion. Like the wonderful words of an old hymn “It is well, with your soul”.

---

Contributing to many of the resources offered by Plain Truth Ministries, including the CWRblog, Stuart Segall writes from the state of Washington.  He has spent most of his adult life counseling, encouraging, inspiring and uplifting others.

---