We live in a world where our worth is measured in likes and retweets. Now of course, there's nothing inherently wrong with having a lot of likes on your latest Instagram post, but if you're like me, this constant influx of social media usage mixed with the media's view of beauty and worth can tear apart your self-esteem and confidence. When the thigh gap was trending, I found myself constantly on Tumblr, scrolling through pictures of girls who I thought were more beautiful than me because I never saw pictures of girls who looked like me on these websites. I was filling myself with all of these lies about how I looked and how useless I was, and I developed an eating disorder - an eating disorder that was cured by the grace of God.
A lot of people don't believe me. I get it. It seems crazy that one day I was so emotionally and mentally ill that I was harming myself with food, and then the next day I just gave it up. But that truly is my story. I suffered for a year with binge eating disorder, and it was the word of God that opened my eyes to my own worth and saved me.
The best way to see how beautifully and wonderfully made you are is to look at the words of the one who created you.
1. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27
This verse not only helps me see how worthy I am, but also gives me a respect for others. Not only am I made in the image of a perfect God, but so is the man who cuts me off on the interstate or the little girl who won't stop screaming beside you in the restaurant. We are all worthy of love because God made us not only in his image, but to be in relationship with him. It's high praise to be part of the creation that God made specifically to socialize and be with him.
2. "Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." Luke 12:7
This one kind of cracks me up, yet at the same time it really set my heart in the right direction. The first sentence reminds us of how much God planned our lives out. He numbered the hairs on your head, and though sometimes I wish he would have given me a few more, how awesome is it to realize that the number he gave is perfect in his eyes? It serves a purpose and shows his love for you. But more than that, he thinks you're worth more than many sparrows. Truthfully, that doesn't seem like much, but God says that he notices when two sparrows fall to the ground, so the magnitude of how much he cares about us is evident. We might think that sparrows are insignificant, but God notices them, and so his love for us is all the greater.
3."The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17
We don't talk enough about the love letters God has written to the human race. These letters, like the one found here in Zephaniah, are so perfect and moving, that I could hear them everyday for the rest of my life. When I hated myself, God was rejoicing over my life with gladness. When I thought I was worthless, he quieted me with his love. There is nothing greater than the love of God, and this passage shows how much God loves humanity and you specifically.
4. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Weakness is looked down upon today, and I hate when people think I am weak. It makes it hard for me to open up to people, and it makes me confrontational when I don't need to be. The same happens with my relationship with God. It is in those weak moments that I need to be reminded that this is not the Shelby Lee show; rather, my life's purpose is to show God's greatness, not my own. Nothing I have is by my own works, but because of God's grace and his perfect plan. I was struggling when I had my eating disorder, but on the other side I see how it has made God great in my life and also how others have come to be curious about the God that saved me and could also save them. You may think your world is falling apart, but with God it's falling into place. If you are weak, he will be strong for you. No one needs to be perfect with God, because he is always perfect.
5."He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.He rescued me from my powerful enemy,from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.He brought me out into a spacious place;he rescued me because he delighted in me." Psalm 18: 16-19
My favorite bible verse describes a God who is powerful and protects us from our enemies, yet at the same time is so loving and caring that you bring him delight. The image of God reaching down from heaven, taking me into his arms and protecting me from my enemy (myself) reminds me that the way I viewed myself should never be as low as it once was now that he has me in his arms. God, the creator of the Heavens and the Earth, sees me, thinks about me and is delighted. He sees you, thinks about you and is delighted too.
