Crushing Insecurity
You know, when you wake up, look in the mirror as you get ready and turn to the first thing that happens every morning. You start picking out all the flaws in your body. The pimples on your face, the little flab in your arms, the shape of your nose, and other parts of yourself you just wish you could change. Sometimes you may even catch yourself comparing yourself to the girl on your Instagram feed or the boy next door, wishing you were skinny like them, buff like them, or tall like them. You may even wish to have the confidence that exudes out of them.
We feel so bad about the features or even parts of our personality that we try to hide them the best way we can because we feel like people are constantly staring at our imperfections. Sometimes we even decline the offer to go out because we feel the need to hide behind our flaws.
How do we overcome this constant need to be attractive and be the perfect image that the world sells?
Firstly, we must recognize that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God according to Psalm 139:14. Every part of you that you think is flawed, God sees as perfect. You are so precious in His eyes, even the parts you deem as ugly. There is so much more to you than what you see on the outside.
Secondly, acknowledge that you are God’s beautiful creation and accept who you are, wholeheartedly. See yourself through God’s eyes and thank Him for how He has created you. You are unique and there is no one like you in this world. Take pride in that. Honor your body as God’s temple and remember that it is working day and night to help you accomplish God’s will.
1 Samuel 16:7 says
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
This scripture about beauty illustrates that the world focuses on what people look like on the outside. God focuses on what people look like on the inside. Many times we try to find the perfect outfit and have the perfect body. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look pretty, we need to make sure it’s in balance. God would rather see us work on becoming drop-dead gorgeous on the inside. The kind of person who talks to Him on a regular basis, reads their Bible, and lives according to His word.
Proverbs 31:30 says
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.“
Beauty fades with age, so if you are more concerned with your outer appearance, you will be unhappy when the wrinkles come and the number on the scale goes up. God wants us to “fear” Him. That doesn’t mean to be afraid of Him but rather to obey Him. When we walk according to His word and imitate His character, the legacy that we leave behind will last forever. That is the kind of charm that draws people to us and points them to God through us.
1 Peter 3:3-4 says
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornments... Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
You are not only how you look but you are what makes up your character. When someone interacts with you, more than your appearance they should remember how you made them feel. Do they see the fruit of the spirit exhibited through you or just another person that has no lasting impact but has all the right looks? That is why exhibiting the character of Jesus, which is the fruit of the spirit is very important for a follower of Christ. Being remembered for being kind, genuine, warm, funny but most importantly, real. Let your Christ-like character be what people remember when they see you. Let us strive to live out Jesus every day through our actions, words, and thoughts.
When you learn to love all the parts of yourself that make you who you are, just as God does, you become confident to face the world. You are able to be confident enough to love others without judgment and share God’s love with them. So be confident, embrace who God has created you to be, and love others the same way God loves you.