Sat here listening to ‘You Say’ by Lauren Daigle, I for one know that I need reminding daily that God says that I am enough. Many of us struggle knowing that we are enough in different areas of life, but, for me, my struggle has always been body image and I know that I’m not alone.
26Then God said, “Let us make human beingsb in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth,c and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
(Genesis 1:26)
We all know that God is more than enough for us, yet we who are made in His image do not always feel this way.
In a Dove survey in 2016, only 20 percent of British women surveyed said they were happy with how they looked. The current ideal image for women is only achievable by 5 percent of women.
Women are not alone, however. According to mentalhealth.org, this set of unhealthy thoughts are also increasing in men. In a 2019 survey of just over 4000 men, 1 in 10 said that they had experienced suicidal thoughts and self-harming feelings due to their body image, and 1 in 5 had dressed in a way to hide their body.
So lets look at what God’s word says.
10For 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)
Masterpieces are one of a kind, unique, individual, different but still masterpieces.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
(Psalm 139:14)
Each of us is a wonderful creation made by the living God.
I’ve been alive on this earth long enough to know that the ‘ideal image’ in people’s eyes changes, but God’s stays the same. In Proverbs 4.23 it says, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” We will always fall short of the world’s standard of beauty and image, therefore focus on God’s image of us.
7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7)
You are enough in God’s eyes, therefore replace those unhealthy thoughts controlled by Satan because God gave us the truth in his word.
Those who know me will know that I began a new journey in September 2020 and am currently back in education at Uni studying, so have forever found myself referencing. For this, however, my reference is the Bible. On those tough days of self-doubt, dig deep into God’s Word, the Truth.
6Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6)