What are the top 4 things girls struggle with today? Read through this list and you won’t be surprised: our weight, clothes, our face and how others see us. I’ve found myself trying to figure out what light bulbs are best in my bathroom, to better like what I see in the mirror. Anyone relate? I’m ready to win the fight against the mirror, and see you win too.
Your friends may recite their struggles with weight on repeat, and your sister may be frantically trying to please her friends and the guy who might ask her to homecoming. But does this have to be your fate too?
We can point our finger at the mirror, blame it for the struggles us girls face, or see it just as it is:
A reflection. An honest display of our hearts.
I believe it boils down to a simple truth: most of us are trying to please something or someone. Either ourselves, others, or both. The only reason we pick up a beauty magazine is to improve ourselves for the sake of measuring up to that imaginary perfection. “I’m not enough as-is. Give me a credit card and I’ll get working.”
[ [ We study others, how they look and dress, and build a report against ourselves. ] ]
We all hate rejection; even loathe thinking about it, so we will put ourselves through madness to achieve permanent like-ability. Even Jesus, who was purely kind, selfless and loyal, had enemies – people who didn’t like the sight of Him. And wait, He was ok with this?
He said, “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.” Luke 6:27 Message
We asked social media recently, whose opinion counts most when choosing what to wear. Answers ranged from sister, husband, daughter, God’s, to themselves.
Madness is trying to please everyone else. Finding the right image to get acceptance in return. ‘Boys will only like me if I look more like this.’ ‘My friends will treat me better if I change myself.’
Give enough away and you’ll be left with nothing. A woman who pleases the Lord doesn’t worry about her outward appearance.
“Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.” Prov. 31:30 Message
“What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.” 1 Peter 3:3-5 Message
Jesus wasn’t in the race to please others. He showed us that the top 4 struggles most of us girls face are not without four successes.
Take these questions into your conversations with God today.
• Why do I feel accepted or rejected by how much I weigh? Who am I comparing myself to, a thinner person I know or don’t know? What does she have that I want? God, help me to realize I’m accepted by You and only You can give me what I need. Luke 12:7
• In my heart, have up I summed up how I feel about my
self with what I wear? Do my friends accept or reject me based on my clothes? Should I let go of these friends and trust You to provide better ones? Proverbs 27:17
• Do I fight with the mirror about my face? Is it never clear enough, never made up enough, never beautiful enough? My cheeks, my eyelashes, my lips, my nose… do I complain that I was not created well? Show me what You see, Jesus. Psalm 139:13-18
• Do I feel fantastic or horrible based on how others see me today? Is the opinion of one person or several people so priceless to me that I will spend myself to get their approval, no matter the cost? God, please slow me down long enough to receive validation from You so I won’t seek it elsewhere. Jeremiah 31:3
Dear one, step off the treadmill of being perfect, and be the person God made you to be: someone who SHINES.
~Becca
