By: Lyndsay Crews
I was having a fat day. I arrived at church and there was my friend, my skinny friend, who just had a baby 3 months ago. My baby was 1 year old and I still struggled with baby weight retention. I listened to people compliment my friend’s body and how “she had bounced right back”. No one complimented me and I sat in my pew almost in tears. I was genuinely happy for my friend and her genetic ability to regain her pre-baby body, but I was also sad for me. I’ve struggled with my weight for a long time and that day I lost the ongoing battle that affected my body image and self esteem. I let my entire self worth be based on my pants size. It’s petty, but it’s truth.
Did you know in Fiji ‘heavy-set’ is in style? Yep, it’s a sign of health, wealth and fertility. Anyone interested in moving? Our body image ebbs and flows based on cultural preferences, not on who God says we are. Our dream pool (who we want to look like) will always lose to our gene pool (how God made us).
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
– Ephesians 2:10
We, as women, struggle with body image. But we as Christian women can take comfort knowing God created us and He created us with a specific purpose. You are beautiful because you are God’s creation. Today, genuinely thank God for making you, just how you are.
I’m coming with you. I really needed this–especially Ephesians 2:10. I have been up praying through what comes next in this season. One of the biggest struggles is what work to ask for next. I have had a hard time coming off a few painful failures last year. Thank you for reminding me that the work ahead of me has been laid out for me to do. I love hand work for myself. It is comforting to think that He might like to keep me close by, in His bag all the time, so He can work on me continually. I like staying close by.
Hey Tricia, Thank you for letting me know how to pray for you. I just prayed for clarity and peace for you and will continue to do so. Thank you for sharing your struggles with me.