I was sitting in the nail salon, when a complete stranger and I struck up conversation. In the course of that conversation, she poured out her heart that she was divorced and had just gotten out of her first relationship since her divorce. The reason? The man cheated on her. She confided that as a woman in her late 40's, she felt completely horrible about her weight, her worth, and herself. We ended up exchanging information and I have invited her to church with me.
I help teach a girl's Bible study for our student ministry. The other night, our main teacher couldn't be there, so a friend of mine and I taught the lesson. It was called "The Secret to Self Worth." Within 10 minutes of beginning the lesson, three girls had already started crying because of the way they feel about themselves. Weight, parental relationships as well as relationships with the opposite sex, and feeling media pressure were all things that struck a chord with these young girls, and they couldn't hold back the tears.
I was watching Oprah the other day, and the topic was about two 30-year-old women who hadn't been in an intimate physical relationship with a man. (Of course as a Christian, I think it's God's best for women to wait until marriage for that relationship. But that's beside the point right now.) Both of these women admitted that they felt horribly insecure about themselves. They feel unworthy of having happy relationships.
There's a girl I see at church almost every week. She's in late high school. Her insecurity is so obvious, it's almost painful to watch. And the clincher? She's what the world would consider a really attractive girl. She even has the physical looks to feel confident. But it's blaringly obvious that she is desperate to hide in a cave of insecurity.
And the list goes on and on. Women are crying out to feel worthy, beautiful, and secure. We live in a culture that is obsessed with image and self-glorification. It's disgusting.
At the girls' Bible study, I showed them the Dove video that gives the real scenario behind ad campaigns and models. Even women who are (by worldly standards) beautiful are asked to lose 15 more pounds, are loaded with makeup and styling, and are airbrushed into porcelain, perfect figures. I reminded the girls that there are people sitting around a conference table, deciding how to market a product to young girls. They discuss how to prey on the insecurities of these girls, just to make a buck. They spend millions of dollars to make girls feel 1 inch tall and a dollar short.
The biggest thing we discussed was how the Lord makes a difference in our attitudes and minds if we let Him. He created us perfectly, in His own image, and if we know Him as Lord and Savior, His Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. We have that supernatural power to transform our thinking!
The Bible study told three formulas that girls/women believe:
1. Worth = What I Look Like
2. Worth = What I Do
3. Worth = What Others Think of Me
Aren't these true? We ALL fall into these categories of thinking sometimes. We discussed how to change these formulas:
1. Worth = How I am created in the image of God
2. Worth = What Jesus Christ has done for me
3. Worth = What the Lord thinks of me
Isn't that a wonderful way to change your thinking? Women of ALL AGES need to remember that we are precious, loved children of God. He desires for us to claim the power of Christ over these lies! It breaks my heart that we as women cheat ourselves out of so much happiness, because just can't get over those 20 pounds. Now don't get me wrong--it's important to take care of ourselves and be our best. But the Lord loves us at WHATEVER WEIGHT WE ARE, what we look like, what we have or haven't done, and regardless of what the world thinks. Thank you, God!
I've said this before, but I want to encourage you to read this book:
It was life-changing for me!
Do not let the Enemy steal your joy, keep you from enjoying the rich life God has for you, or deceive you into thinking that you're not worthy of love. (I'm telling this to myself most of all!) We are living in a world where women (men too, but especially women) are desperate for acceptance--most of all from themselves. Claim His promises and know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
You're beautiful!
