Confidence and the lack of it within young women is something that is really on my heart. Whilst insecurities are completely normal, it’s difficult to know how to treat them within your faith. When the media portrays body confidence so badly, what is a Christian supposed to do, say or think? In a world where facebook and Instagram likes supposedly determine our self-worth, where does faith come in?
It comes down to a question of identity, as the media tells us what size we should be/what we should be wearing/what we should be doing and of course it’s so easy to be sucked in by it all, when actually we should be looking to God for our callings and gifts, and for guidance on the person we should be.
Unfortunately as Christians, we aren’t often taught to love ourselves. One Christian might say ‘God created me, so therefore I’m awesome’ whereas another might say ‘God is so amazing, so therefore I’m rubbish in comparison’. The solution to this is that we need to remove ourselves from the equation – we are a self-obsessed nation – constantly looking at our own image, when if we trust and rely on God, everything will fall into place. We need to let go of this control our western culture seems to desire, and put all our doubts, insecurities and identity into God’s hands. Proverbs 3:5-6 ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.’
Of course I’m not saying that having insecurities actually means being self-obsessed, but rather that dwelling on them means we are letting the enemy win. The enemy just loves it when we doubt and begin to despise ourselves, but with God we can be excited for who he has made us, and who he may call us to be.
What we can have the most confidence in overall, is God. Our one true love, is God. Perhaps in times of doubt you can lift up your insecurities to God, or spend the time you might usually spend pampering to trying to perfect your look, with God. Pray for who he has made you today, and his future plans for you. Pray to receive beauty from God, rather than from the media and pray that God would continue to work in you, to create your best self in his eyes.
By Lois Christine Forster