I have been there. I know what it’s like to scroll through Instagram and wish you could take pictures that get hundred of likes. I know what it’s like to look in a mirror and only see your flaws. I’ve been through the braces, the acne: thinking I didn’t compare to the girls with flawless skin and straightened teeth. I’ve watched my friends eat whatever they want and still be skinnier than me when I’ve counted every calorie. It’s not fair, I agree. But that doesn’t mean I have to allow it to define me. You see, you do not have to look a certain way to be valued by others. To be a woman of character. A woman of dignity. A woman someone would look up to and be considered a role model for others. The qualities we’ve made most important about us are not the qualities that are going to make an impact. We change the world with our minds, our ambition, our creativity. Not by the complexion of our skin or our pants size. If we fix our minds on becoming women like that instead of looking like women on reality tv shows, we will change the game of expectations of girls growing up in the coming generations.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.” David says it best in Psalm 139: 14-15. You were handcrafted by God and it is not a mistake that you are the way you are. As it says in Genesis 1:27," So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them.” You are beautiful, wonderful, and beloved because you carry the image of God. That is the only truth that withholds us from emotionally abusing ourselves. If you are in a state of life where you feel you are not enough; I would challenge you to see yourself the way God sees you. A good friend Taylor Sinotte once told me, “You’re not going to find self worth if you look for it on your own.” Christ is the one who strengthens us and enables us to see ourselves through God’s eyes, even when we are tempted to believe the lies telling us otherwise.
Your heart is what has the power to brighten peoples days and change lives. Never allow anyone in your life to make you feel this way like you are not good enough to make a change. So often the way we view ourselves is perceived by other people’s opinions of us. If you become so used to someone telling you a lie about yourself, eventually you begin to believe it yourself. Allow yourself to be surrounded by speakers of truth. People who love you enough to help you love yourself, because you are so worth it.
Lastly, the way we see ourselves not only affects what we can accomplish, but also affects the kind of people we become. We are able to show love better to others when we have an understanding of God’s vast love for us. If we truly want to be a vessel for Him and radiate Him in us, we have to know how much value we have from God and experience His unfailing love for us first.
