Love Your Body

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By Erin McNew | Staff Writer

Lately I’ve been really caught up on the concept of body image. Not so much on my own, but on just how much I witness people struggling with it. I’m not even talking about struggling with obesity or acne or anything like that. I’m talking about struggling to see reality. I’m talking about those girls whose view of themselves is just so far from everyone else’s view of them. Those girls who tell themselves they’re too fat or too ugly or too imperfect to be desired. Because I’m starting to believe that this may be one of the most widespread illnesses among women.

I’m starting to think that we may be our own worst enemy. That we’re trapped within our false image of ourselves and beating ourselves from the inside out. That every time we tell ourselves we aren’t pretty enough to be desired or we aren’t skinny enough to be loved we’re simply bruising our heart and convincing our mind of lies.

You have to know you’re worthy. And you have to know that weight is not the only indicator of beauty. Nor is outward appearance for that matter. It’s okay if your thighs touch or if your bottom is looking a little big in your jeans or if some days your hair absolutely refuses to do what you want it to. It’s okay. You don’t have to hold yourself to a standard of perfection, and you don’t have to live in comparison to others. You don’t have to tear other women’s outward appearance apart to justify your own imperfections. And you don’t have to feel small in comparison to other women because your imperfections just happen to be their strengths.

That little pimple on your chin? Men don’t notice it. So your jeans are a little tighter on your bottom than they used to be? It’s totally cool – work it. Society’s perception of beauty is constantly changing. And our opinions of beauty are constantly shifting as a result of these changes of perception. But there’s a beauty that’s static. There’s a type of beauty to be found in Christ that never diminishes. And it’s rooted in a sense of worth and confidence to be found in your understanding of your position as God’s creation. Every time you look in the mirror and tell yourself you aren’t good enough He whispers that you’re perfect. Every time you pick your personal appearance apart He longs to put it back together. Every time you compare yourself to someone else He’s dying to tell you that you were created uniquely.

There’s a beauty to be found in Christ and it knows no imperfection. In fact, Song of Solomon 4:7 literally says, “you are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.” There’s a beauty to be found in Christ and it covers you only in grace.

P.S. You are enough.

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