You all know what it’s like to get these spurts of ‘insecurity’ about how you look, right? Well I do, too. I’ve been told quiet a few times that I am stupid, ugly and fat. Where these accusations came from and what I did to deserve them—I do not know. I know I am not a runway model, or the girl that’s going to get into Harvard, nor am I the face you’ll see on TV; but I really don’t care about any of that. You want to know why? It’s because God doesn’t care either. He doesn’t care if I am the smartest person in the world, and he definitely doesn’t care if I am a skinny, starving model— because I’m not! In Proverbs 31:30-31 it says, ”Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (KJV)
I start having these insecure thoughts about my body when I subject myself to the unreal images that the world presents to girls: be skinny, be smart; be beautiful. But what if I’m not any of that, does that mean I get tossed to the way-side with all of the other girls that didn’t make the ‘cut’? Does that mean I am worthless and have no purpose in life, because I am not what others expect me to be? Not quite! You see, I was created in God’s image—as is every other human being—so, that means everybody else is made in the image of God, too! Everyone of us were created to be individuals, to serve and praise our Lord, not be part some lame, robotic cult with plastic arms and legs.
Instead of worrying about how pretty or skinny we look to the world, we should be more worried about whether or not we look like Christ to the world. My purpose, just like any other Christian teen is to share the love of God. In Colossians 3:17 it says, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (KJV).
As I read that verse, I do give thanks. I give thanks to God for making me who I am, so that I may be influential to the people who need Christ. I look the way I do, act the way I do, walk the way I do, talk the way I do and live the way I do for a purpose—this purpose is not my own, but God’s divine purpose for me. Not only do I have a purpose, but every individual on the face of this earth has one as well. I don’t know what God will call you to do, and if you already know His plans for your life, then that is a blessing indeed! But for most of us—like me—we are struggling to find our identity and purpose in life. And this is one of the reasons we turn to the sinful world for answers.
When we are feeling down about ourselves and our current situation: waiting and praying for God’s purpose to hurry up— we often lose sight of the big picture and slowly gravitate to where the grass seems to be greener of the other side (but it really isn’t). God doesn’t move at our pace, he doesn’t go by our schedule. He does everything on his own time, and he needs you and me to be patient and trust in him. But does that really ever happen? We’re all human, so we tend to stray and follow the desires of our sinful nature. We get caught up in the world and the lies that world says is the ‘truth’.
We are a gullible race of humans. We believe most of what we are told! So, when we see a TV add with some major skinny girls, we automatically think we have to look just like that. We get so caught up in our emotions and desire to look that skinny person that we sometimes go to the extreme of starving ourselves, or making ourselves throw up right after eating. As many of you know, your thoughts, feelings and desires truly determine how beautiful you are on the outside. The beauty of a selfish, hateful model doesn’t compare to the beauty of a loving, caring, giving woman who has scars on her face, barely any teeth and ratty hair. At first glance, we’d all gravitate towards the skinny model, whose appearance is easier on the eyes. But upon closer inspection, we see that she isn’t the kind of person we thought she was. Her character and manner is ungodly, she uses you, cheats on you, gossips about you.
Looking at the other woman, we’d be disgusted by her looks and not even give her the time of day. But by doing the unthinkable, you go over to the woman and start to talk to her. You find out she’s funny, kind and has a great character. She would never hurt you intentionally, gossip about you, cheat on you or use you. Compared to the model, this average woman is more beautiful than the model could ever wish to be. The beauty on the inside is what counts; the beauty on the outside is just a bonus. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (KJV).
Don’t be in a rush to find your purpose. And don’t subject yourself to the degrading images and messages directed towards girl and women. We’re all beautiful in our own unique way and no amount of eyeliner, lipstick or blush can change that. A quote by Eleanor Roosevelt states this: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
So, if you ever watch a TV add and feel like you don’t compare, or someone told you that you weren’t pretty or smart—remember this, you have to power to love or hate yourself. You have the power to block out all mean and hateful things said about you. You have the power to be you, so don’t change because someone told you to! Be you, and I’ll be me. No in between, no straying off the line. We are who we are; we are who God created us to be, so why change? That would totally defeat God’s purpose for us.
~Written by Emily K.
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