Cherry Farrington believes every person needs to recognise that they are a masterpiece.

Photo: tuelekza at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

"Would you like to post this to your profile for friends to see?" Click.

Ding..."and 12 others liked your photo"
Ding..."commented on your status"
Ding..."sent you a message"
Ding..."started following you"
Ding...Ding...Ding...

Your phone comes alive and it feels good to watch the likes and comments flood in, as you're given the mark of approval by all your followers and friends.

But what happens when you make a post and it slips through the newsfeed un-noticed? Why did no-one like it? Do they not like ME?

Or even worse. The 'post' button is clicked and the notifications start coming through, but they are not full of likes and affirming comments. A 'friend' left a nasty comment. Others liked it. Someone from school re-posts your photo with horrible edits. It is liked, liked, liked. And before you can remove any online trace of your original post, the taunts and bullying are all over your profile.

In those moments, who has the final say? Is it the 'like' that says you are accepted? Is it the ignored post that tells you that you are invisible? Or is it the nasty comment that says you are unwanted and dis-liked?

We are all bombarded daily with picture perfect images of how the world says we should look, what we should like and how our lives should be. We all know social media can be used for both good and bad; to further a good cause, to judge and attack others, or just simply to stay in touch with friends and share our lives with the world. But what do we do with it when it is on our phones, in our hands and we have control over what is posted? And what do we do with the feedback it gives us?

In 2014 a dramatic drop in teenagers' self-esteem was linked to the increase of social media and cyber-bullying. Whist in 2016, Google was regularly asked, 'How do I accept myself as I am?' Maybe the answer to this question comes long before the posts, the likes, the comments and finding yourself in front of a mirror of self-criticism.

Photo: Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So put down the phone. Pick up a pen. Look up in the mirror and not your selfie camera. Write down one thing you like about the reflection looking back at you. Is it the way your hair looks today? Because you are beautiful. Is it the goal you scored for your team, or the grade you achieved? Because you are talented. Is it the way you helped out your friend? Because you are kind. Is it how you opened up to your schools counsellor about the struggles at home? Because you are brave. You are loved. You are liked. You are wanted. You are a masterpiece.

I certainly don't feel like a masterpiece every day. The reality of my day-to-day life isn't covered by my favourite filter and I don't have time to think through everything that comes out of my mouth like I do before I write a caption with my photo post. However, it is the real reflection looking back at me in the mirror that God calls a masterpiece. Not my social media profile.

So before you delete all of your online accounts and scrap the old photos you don't like, or post your perfect images excited for the likes to roll in, take a moment to pause.

Regardless of the response, who is going to have the final say over how you view yourself? Instead of letting the online world tell you who you are and if you are liked, let the One who created you and has seen your every perfection and flaw make the lasting comment.

'You are a masterpiece.'

Designed, liked and loved by the Creator of the Universe, He longs to be your friend and show you all the beauty He placed in you and reveal all that He created you for. Now that's quite an important notification.

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10