The fluorescent lights of the dressing room cast a harsh glow, highlighting every curve and perceived imperfection. My teenage self, trapped in a sea of insecurities, felt like a misshapen pebble on a beach of flawless seashells. Body image, a cruel tyrant, ruled my thoughts, whispering lies of inadequacy and worthlessness.

The reflection in the mirror used to be my enemy. Teenage me saw nothing but flaws – a -crooked smile, legs and belly that never seemed “thin” enough, a bosom too big for my age and curves that whispered doubts about my worth. The world’s beauty standards, and diets amplified by glossy teen magazines, felt like a constant accusation. I spent years chasing an unattainable ideal, my self-worth shrinking with every diet fad and comparison.

This wasn’t just a teenage phase. As a young woman, the struggle continued. Magazines became my battleground, filled with airbrushed ideals that fueled the fire of self-comparison. The number on the scale became my nemesis, dictating my moods and self-worth. I chased trends, starved myself, and wore clothes like armor, hoping to hide the parts I deemed unworthy.

But why?

This struggle, I learned, is far too familiar for women. Why do so many women fall prey to the body image trap? The answer, I believe, lies in a distorted view of our worth. We are bombarded with messages that equate our value with our appearance, equating it with size, shape, and flawless facades.

Culture tells us our bodies are battlegrounds, to be sculpted and shrunk into something society deems “perfect.” It’s a relentless assault on our self-worth, leaving many of us feeling like failures in our own skin.

 I think we forget the truth that whispers beneath the noise: God created us, and in His eyes, we are perfect.

God doesn’t see us through the distorted lens of the world. He doesn’t gaze upon our bodies with a critical eye, tallying up imperfections and finding us wanting. No, in His eyes, we are masterpieces. Created in His image, woven with love and purpose, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

This wasn’t an easy truth to grasp. It took years of untangling the lies I’d believed, replacing them with the whispers of God’s grace. It meant immersing myself in scripture, verses like Ephesians 2:10 reminding me that I am His beloved creation, chosen and precious. It meant surrounding myself with women who saw my worth beyond the physical, who reflected God’s love and acceptance.

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

Ephesians 2:10— AMP

Here’s the liberating truth, friends: God, in His infinite wisdom and love, crafted us each with intentionality. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, masterpieces woven with unique threads of strengths, talents, and yes, even the “flaws” that make us who we are. In Psalm 139, David beautifully declares, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well.”

Accepting this truth is a journey, not a destination. It requires intentional steps to silence the inner critic, negative self-talk and more or less stop bullying ourselves and replace its lies with God’s whispers of love. 

The journey isn’t linear. There are still days when the mirror feels like a taunting reminder of my perceived shortcomings. But slowly, with each whispered prayer and conscious effort, I began to see myself through God’s eyes. I started appreciating the beauty in my curves, the laughter lines etched around my eyes. These represent the experiences we have gathered, the lessons learned, and the faithfulness we have shown over the years. Each wrinkle tells a story; each gray hair a testament to a well-lived life.They are the beauty marks that speak of my story.They speak of your story too.

There are still days when the mirror feels like a bully. I began to think to myself if I’m shaming my body, I’m making God sad because he created me. He does not make mistakes. I quickly repented for shaming his workmanship, in me. But slowly, through God’s grace and intentional effort, the whispers of acceptance grew louder. I began to see myself as He saw me: a beloved daughter, fearfully and wonderfully made.

Remember

Remember, ladies, you’re not alone in this battle. We are in this together, walking alongside each other, daughters of the same King, loved beyond measure. Won’t you join me in seeing yourself through His eyes, embrace the bodies He entrusted to us, and radiate His love to the world, one imperfectly perfect reflection at a time.

Share your story or an answer to one of the journaling questions above in the comments below if you’re comfortable in doing so or just offer an encouraging word to someone out there, we may never know who our words touch, and that’s okay, because God does!

Let’s encourage and uplift each other on this journey of self-acceptance in Christ. Remember, you are not alone, and together, we can rewrite the narrative of beauty, one story at a time.

May your mirrors become windows to God’s grace, reflecting the love and beauty He sees within you.

Linking up this month with these AMAZING Blog Hop/Link-Up party hostesses!

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