Let’s talk about the ever fun subject : body image.
If you traveled all around the world, you would find many different standards for what is ‘beautiful’ and ‘normal’ when it comes to body size and shape.
All cultures have these man made beliefs around what an ideal body is.
I like to think about body image comprising of three types of relationships : your relationship with God, others and yourself.
Now, as Christians, we know that God comes first in that lineup and that He sets the standards.
What does He say about you? The Bible says that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made. There isn’t a verse that says, ‘Thou shall not weigh more than 160 lbs.’ or ‘Thou shall be less than 5’5″ and wear a size 4.’
Here’s the truth – God doesn’t play favorites when it comes to how He made you and we can see in Scripture that He cares much more about our obedience, our humility and the conditions of our hearts than what size shirt and pants we wear (Proverbs 31).
So why do we struggle with body image? My belief is that we’ve taken our eyes off of God’s standards and we’ve put them onto the world’s.
Let’s always remember Who we belong to and rather than blaming the container that, not only houses the Holy Spirit, but all of our emotions and feelings, let’s decode those inner feelings that tell me ‘I’m fat and that is bad.’
As you journey along with working through body image, think about these things:
- Ask yourself what media you’re consuming. What thoughts are in your head? Are they yours? Are they God’s? Or have they been put there by what you’re consuming?
- What would it be like to agree with God about your body?
- How often do you consent to other people’s conversations about body trashing?
- Ask God to show you where in your heart you’re still agreeing with diet culture.
- What would it look like to speak kindly, or even neutrally, to the body you’ve been given?
- Here’s a mantra or meditation you can practice : ‘I don’t belong to this world. I don’t speak or treat anyone’s body in a critical or condemning manner. I was made in the image of God.’
Check out this week’s video below!
I have a thyroid problem. I am diagnosed with hypothyroidism. In 2008 or 2009 somewhere in there my thyroid stopped working completely & I gained so much weight. I was 350 lbs. My brother-in-law said something is seriously wrong, you need to get it checked out. At first doctors would tell me eat less, it’s not that hard to eat less. So I quit going. During this time when I walked I sounded like I was in labor because I was breathing heavy & snorting. I started hurting really bad. My mom kept trying to get me to go to the doctor. I told her they don’t do anything just tell me eat less because that’s what they kept telling me. I went to the doctor & he put me on a zpack but it didn’t help. I ended up in the emergency room. The doctor came in & told me I have acute pneumonia & they did more tests & found out my thyroid quit. The doctor came back in he said not only is the pneumonia killing you but your body is shutting down due to the thyroid not working at all. He said your dying but I will do everything I can for you. That’s what he did he took really good care of me. I was on high antibiotics & stuff. Anyways people was discussed with me. They treated me bad & called me all kinds of names. I got to where I wouldn’t leave the house. It was horrible. They told me I need to get my things in order & make arrangements for my son because he was under age. Even he got made fun of for having a huge mother. It was very heart breaking. I told everyone I’m not dying God saidI’m not. I stood grounded on God’s Word. Anyways God worked through the doctor to save my life. I give God all the credit because I know that I know that I know He is the one who saved my life here on earth. It was a long hard journey. When I got out of the hospital people were still being judgemental & harsh. I did get really depressed I won’t lie. Then I had I started having female problems. I was bleeding & it wouldn’t stop. One day it got so bad it started running out of me like someone turned on the water. ended up having to having to have a hysterectomy. The doctor told my mom I can’t believe she was able to walk in here because I lost a lot of blood. I had to have a blood transfusion before he could even do the surgery. Later I had to have a gastric bypass. I was told I only have 20% chance to live without it. My mom talked me into she it. She said I want you to live. Anyways I have been through a lot. I was really really sick. I’m still big I weigh 212. I’m in 14 & 16 depending on the clothes. During all this time I still have a lot of pain & still do. It’s just so messed up & very hurtful how people judge us on our bodies & so forth. They don’t even know what each of us go through individually. It just really breaks my heart. People treated me horribly & my son got made fun & picked on about in school & out of school. I do honestly struggle with my body weight but I’m so grateful & thankful to God for all He has done for me because I would not be alive today without Him. Praise our Heavenly Father God of all creation in heaven & on earth. He is so so worthy to be praise. I love Him, Jesus & the Holy Spirit. We are our own worst critic because of how others judge us & make us feel bad & shameful about ourselves. We don’t need to listen to the lies of the devil, he uses people to hurt us. So thank you so much for being here & helping us through our journey with our body. I’m so glad God put you here for us. I give God thanks & I thank you next.
I’m glad you’ve come through these hard times. Stay focused on him , not on clothes sizes and what his promises for us are and you’ll find over time that he will most certainly use the least of us. God Bless you!