Self-image is something most women, if not all women, at one point deal with. Why is it that we can not feel secure in our looks? We look in the mirror to look for any indication that there is something wrong with us so that we can cover it up with some short of product to make us feel better about ourselves. That is not the way to measure anyone or yourself. We are still going by what the world tells us is beauty then. When you think about God and God’s love for you how can you not help but feel gorgeous inside? To your Father in heaven you are more beautiful and precious then the stars in the sky. Matthew 13:45-46 says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” God found us like a merchant and gave everything for us. Romans 5:8 tells true testimony to God’s love for us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” How amazing is it that God loved us so much that while we were STILL sinners he sent his son for us. We are of more value and beauty to God then anything else, anything he created. Trust in the Lord who holds you with more value then all the riches in the world.
What can we, as women, do to help change this in us and the future generations? We can start by not judging one another on things of this world. Honestly how many of us judge another woman on appearance? If you are honest with yourself you will own up to it. If you own up to it there is the beginning to recognize it and change it. I do, I feel awful about it. I do not want to judge another woman, it is not righteous judgment. If it is not righteous we do not have the ability to judge on that, we are not God. If we are making judgment we are trying to play God which is simple ridiculous. We can not look into the heart of someone and truly see them as God. How to go about being able to sit in your sit involves many things. First realizing every woman is beautiful by something. There is one thing about every woman that makes them beautiful and unique like a star in the sky. See it out as to what it is. Secondly figure out how you judge, if there are people that bring the gossip and judgment out of you more. Once you figure out how you judge turn it to positive, instead of looking for what is wrong look for what is good. Are they reading? See what they are reading. If you gossip with someone there are number options: 1) set up an agreement to look only for positive and not to look for faults in others. Now this is hard with best friends, it is hard not to vent/rant which could really just be gossip/judgment of someone. 2) You may simple stay indoors where as there is no one about to judge, thought I don’t recommend being a loner forever. 3) If it really comes down to it having to separate so much that when you see each other the only thing you can do is play catch up. On an individual level there is much you can do. Like I said earlier was realizing why you judge or how you judge. Most of the time we are trying to degrade someone so we feel that we stand to there level, such as thinking someone is prettier then us we’ll try to point out faults.
What else as women can we do bring down self-esteem issues? We need to compliment each other. I know it sounds weird but seriously have you told a girl in your group today that they look cute/pretty/beautiful today? We as women know other women are judging us based on simply things. As an example by the way you dress. What we wear in the end shouldn’t really matter. 1 Peter 3:3-4, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”
Ok now don’t start thinking, “is she seriously talking about dressing like a bum?” No I’m not talking about going to shack clothes and ashes here ladies. There is a point of dressing nicely and becoming so involved with your outward appearance that you have no inward beauty. There is a point where make-up is for special occasions and then there is a time where you think you are ugly if you don’t have make-up on.
Psalms 31:30 would tell us, “Charm is deceiving, beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” When we go out into the world and judge other women, rather you will own up to the fact that you judge, why are we not going if she fears the Lord she is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen? We should look at ourselves and instead of trying to find something wrong with us we should be asking ourselves do I fear the Lord? Do I really with all my heart fear the Lord and love Him? If you answered yes to both then you are a beautiful woman in Christ. When you think about this it makes everything so much easier to deal with, it makes you realize you are beautiful.
God loves us so much that He sent Christ to die for us, so we can what gain life in him and worry about how we look? No Christ died so that we might have life, a life to live for God. I think Paul said it best in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” So that question is to you today, are you trying to win approval of the people around you or God?
