Self-Body Shaming: It's More Than A Comparison To Other Bodies.
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Self-Body Shaming: It's More Than A Comparison To Other Bodies.

It's telling God "You messed up."

111
Self-Body Shaming: It's More Than A Comparison To Other Bodies.
The Suicide Entries

Body-shaming is always talked about--it is all over the media. However, self-body shaming appears to be silently expressed in the media world. The media portrays different “ideal body types,” telling us our bodies are not good enough. The media puts up nearly unrealistic pictures of other people to compare ourselves to. Too often we forget who gave us our intricately designed, beautiful and flawless bodies. By hating our bodies, they are essentially telling God "We hate the way you made us. You messed up.” Self-body shaming is more than just shaming our own bodies. It is shaming God's beautiful creation. Too often, we forget the beauty in God's creation, especially ourselves.

With today’s media, it is so easy to find at least ten things you hate about yourself, whether in appearance or personality. We are taught to hate ourselves. I challenge you to get a piece of paper and split it in half vertically. On the left side, write down each thing you hate about yourself--seriously! Now, for everything you hate about yourself, write two things you love about yourself on the right side of the paper. I guarantee it was much easier to find things you hate about yourself--I know it was for me! This is the type of society we live in. We accentuate our flaws other people tell us about, and do not magnify our individual strengths.

Song of Solomon 4:7 (ESV) says “You are altogether beautiful, my love--there is no flaw in you.” This bible verse has been eating away at my heart, especially over the past few weeks. Just as most of you, I have health problems. I view them as flaws and God messing me up. Yet, this bible verse so lovingly tells me I am beautiful--there is no flaw in me. Despite what society says, I am beautiful. Despite my medical records, I am made flawless. I was not created to hate the body God gave me. The media was created for that. I was created to love the unlovable, clothe the naked, seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of orphans, and to be sincere (Isaiah 1:17, Luke 6:27, Romans 12:9). Why would God make us “flawed” in our eyes, without a purpose? The answer is simple--We are not flawed. Every single flaw we see in our eyes, is a way for God to reach out to us. It is a way for us to reach out to others.

Complaining about our flaws is complaining about God. Loving ourselves is loving God. Genesis 1:27 (ESV) says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him--male and female he created them.” We are intricately designed by a loving Father who has never made a mistake. Your breasts are exactly how God wanted them to be. Your butt is exactly how God wanted it to be. Your smile is exactly how God wanted it to be. Your eyes are exactly how God wanted them to be. We never had a say in how we were made because we would mess it all up. We would mess up God’s plan by changing how we look. So your friend has a nicer smile than you, she has bigger breasts than you, a flatter stomach than you--so what? How is your heart? Is it full of love, or is it full of envy and jealousy? God never intended us to hate ourselves. God intended us to use our “flaws” for his kingdom. Our crippling and unnecessary “flaws” are there to build persistence and strength. They are there to point us back to the One who will hold us and love us at our darkest times (Romans 5:8).

Despite what the media has told us, God made each one of us beautiful. He made us exactly the way He thought we should be made. He took His time to make us perfect in His eyes. Yet, here we are--shaming His creation. Shaming His purpose for all of our “flaws.” I challenge you to keep the list of things you hate and love about yourself in a place you see often. When feelings of insecurity and incompetence fill your mind, turn to the One who gave you life. Turn to the One who intimately loves His creation. Turn to the One who made you flawless.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

49096
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

31202
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

954954
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180246
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments