Love Yourself, Accept Yourself

I don’t always like myself — on the inside and the outside. On the easiest and best day, my mind will always find a river to flood with insecurity. Especially in today’s world.

For my girls, our bodies are always sexualized by the media and public. We tend to think that everyone works out and eats healthy, but ourselves. For Pete’s sake, there’s even specific ways to do our makeup now. Outer image and “likable” traits can become an addiction to us girls and will tear us apart from the inside out. Even picking an outfit and looking in the mirror is such a process before we leave the house.

For my fellas, there is such lesser public attention to male insecurities. But they are so stinkin’ important! Guys, maybe you’re struggling with the world’s standard of what a “man” is. Bodily image is also a thing, the publicity of the “importance” of a 6-pack, ripped biceps and whatever other muscles there are (I’m a political science major, I don’t know these things). Maybe it’s the need to bottle your emotions, to be skilled in every way, to be athletic, or to be competitive. Here’s the big one. Maybe its your struggle with how the world views women. Lust is a massive struggle for all men and it has become so common to take these thoughts and turn them into derogatory actions/words towards women in order to impress.

It is so easy to fall prey to all of this in our world. It is so easy to tear ourselves down, to destroy our confidence in who we were created to be.

For me, one of the hardest things, is walking into a place full of people. It could be a football stadium, a boutique, Was-Mart, or a classroom. I’m always concerned about the people in the room, what they’ll think of my outer appearance, how they will react to my personality, and what they’ll say about me when I’m not there. Maybe you relate to this, maybe it’s something else that gets you, I don’t know. But what I do know is that we all struggle with this. Whether you want to admit it or not.

But here’s the deal. I don’t want to focus too long on these insecurities. I don’t want to allow a foothold to be created in your head for Satan to grab hold of while you read this. Instead, I pray that I can be a vessel for the Lord to communicate His encouragement and intense love for you.

I’m not going to use many of my own words from here on. I want to share with you some of the most faithful promises in the world, God’s Word.

1. God created YOU in His image – Genesis 1:27 – Scripture repeats the word “created” three times in this verse. Reminding us that we were not a happy accident, we were not improvised. God created man and women in a way that only He can do. Which leads to my next verse…
2. He knit us together, and He loved us since before then – Psalm 139:13-14, 16 – We are fearfully and wonderfully made(vs.14) and verse 16 remind us that He knew us when we were formless. Before any of our days began, He had them planned and knew these plans well. Which leads to the fact that…
3. Before we could even choose Him, He chose us – John 15:16 – Before you and I were even a thought in our parents brains, God loved us, He choose us, He desired a relationship with us.
4. When we were(are) broken, He makes us whole and shows us forgiveness – Psalm 103:8-12
5. When we are lost, He finds us, rescues us, and shows us that His mercy prevails – Luke 15
6. When we are disappointed, He teaches us that disappointments can bring us to appointments that He has ordained – Romans 8:28

Friends, God does not just want you to follow Him. He wants you to know that He created you, He has loved you since before time began, He has carefully planned your days before the sun and moon and HE CHOSE YOU.

We are talking about the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe, and the One who loves you unconditionally and molded you with His own two hands. The same hands that hold the world in place and hold your past, present, and future.

I believe that insecurity is our body’s, mind’s, and spirits’ cry out for Jesus. It’s cry to recognize it’s creator.

This world teaches us to be so concerned about who and what we are. But that has already been defined for us. We are children of God. Children of the One True King.

So while, as humans, we will always struggle with insecurity and feelings of being less than, I hope you can see what I’m trying to communicate to you, what The Lord wants to communicate to you.

You were fearfully and wonderfully made. You were created in the image of God. You were created to be in relationship with Him. You were created for a higher purpose.

You were created by the all powerful, all knowing, outside of time and space, Creator of all.

So today, when you feel discouraged in who you are, run to Him. Feel His peace. Accept His words. Remind yourself that you were created by Him, for Him. And that He loves you more than you could ever imagine.

 

I love you guys and I’m praying for you all. Run to Him, always. His arms are open.

Live today like you were created to, fearfully and wonderfully, for Him.

 

In His love,

CarrieLiz