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BODIES UNDER ATTACK

We live in a culture that is obsessed with body image, overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations, and underwhelmed by Truth. As a result, self-esteem levels are dropping and eating disorders are on the rise.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/, the cultural idealization of thinness plays a major role in the development of eating disorders. In their article, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders, NEDA gathered information from various sources to present the following statistics:

• 40-60% of girls ages 6 to 12 are concerned about becoming fat
• 69% of elementary school girls who read magazines report that the pictures influence their body image ideal
• 47% of those same elementary school girls report that those pictures make them want to be thinner
• Around 79% of girls and 85% of adult women confess that they’ve opted out of important life events because of concern regarding appearance
• About 70% of females report a decline in body confidence stemming from media’s continued propagation of unrealistic beauty ideals
• Approximately 90% of women admit that they are willing to go hungry when they feel badly about their body image, even if doing so puts their health at risk

RIGHTING OUR REALITY

These staggering statistics reveal the powerful influence that media and culture have on body image. But, sadly, these statistics probably did nothing more than confirm what you already know.

Insecurities planted by modern media’s lies have affected most, if not all, of us at some point. It’s booming voice tells all who will listen, “YOU ARE NOT ENOUGH.”

But God has another message for us.

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at God’s Word and discuss three important truths that we can use to combat the lies we’re told about our bodies.

YOUR BODY WAS CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE

We must remember, first and foremost, that God created human beings in His image.

Genesis 1:26-27 says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

If we continue reading, we find that Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

So not only did the God of the universe make us in His magnificent image, but after He created us, He called His creation very good.

FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE

Of course, God called his created beings very good before the fall of man in Genesis 3. So you may think, “Well, yes, of course, we were good then. We were perfect and living in a sinless world!”

Not so fast.

Even after sin entered the world, God continues to communicate the intentionality and love with which He puts into creating us.

Psalm 139:13-14 is a beautiful confirmation of this truth. It says, “For You formed my inward parts. You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”

Our bodies aren’t formed haphazardly by some random chance of DNA, they are carefully crafted by our Lord. 

When the propaganda of modern media threatens your sense of self-worth, remember the truth. Remind yourself that your beautiful Savior created you with careful design. And He made you wonderfully.

YOUR BODY WAS CREATED FOR A PURPOSE

In a culture that exalts a thin body, flawless skin, impeccable muscle tone, and sexual appeal, remembering the true purpose of our bodies can be difficult.

Ephesians 2:10 says this: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

At the end of last year, Alyssa Bethke and Sadie Robertson released the *Finding Freedom Workshop in an effort to help women realize the truth of God’s love and purpose for their bodies.

Through the *Finding Freedom devotional, Alyssa and Sadie take readers on an inspirational 8-week journey to discover true beauty through the lens of God’s truth.

God designed our bodies to be so much more than simple objects of superficial beauty and physical attraction. He created them to serve and glorify Him.

FUNCTIONALITY OVER APPEARANCE

The Lord created our physical bodies with the amazing ability to function in many different capacities to accomplish His will.

Reminding myself of God’s purpose for my body has helped me tremendously throughout my eating disorder and body image healing journey.

God gives all of us different gifts and abilities. But we all have the same ultimate calling to glorify Him, not only with our speech but also with our actions–through our bodies. 

When we keep our true calling at the forefront of our mind, we will begin to realize how our bodies function to fulfill that purpose.

The Lord’s purpose is so much more valuable than physical appearance. And the joy that fulfilling God’s will brings is more beautiful than any body could ever be.

YOUR BODY BELONGS TO GOD

Contrary to the influences and teachings of our current society, our bodies are not ours to do with as we please. Our bodies–our entire lives–belong to God.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

I want you to consider this for a moment. And, trust me, I’m challenging myself to consider it too even as I write this.

According to scripture, God lends our bodies to us to serve as temples for the Holy Ghost–God’s Spirit given to us by His Son, Jesus Christ. 

I wonder how many of us can say that we truly understand the weight of what’s being said in the above verses of scripture. Certainly, most of us cannot.

BORROWED HOMES

If we truly understood that God made our bodies to become temples for His Holy Spirit, how could so many of us continue to fret over something as minor as their physical appearance? And if we truly believed that we were just borrowing our bodies from God, how could so many of us continue to neglect and abuse them? 

I don’t think we would.

Consider the following example: 

When you ask to borrow a beautiful new sweater from a close friend, I’m sure you don’t complain about how ugly it is, throw it carelessly on the floor, or use scissors to cut it into a more desirable design. 

I assume that when you borrow something, you, like most, express appreciation and treat the borrowed item with care (if not a little bit of fear).

Now, imagine that God is that dear friend lending you that treasured item–only, in this case, that item is your precious body. Would you treat it any differently?

God has given us our bodies to serve as a temporary home for our soul. And one day soon they will be returned to Him, their rightful owner.

So let’s surrender our bodies to God and treat them with the same respect that we would anything else that we borrowed.

THE TRUTH ABOUT BEAUTY

The truths of God’s Word stand true regardless of the ever-changing ideals of our culture and dogma of our media.

True beauty can never be found through the achievement of subjective beauty ideals. Because true beauty comes from the heart.

The Lord confirms this truth in I Samuel 16:7 when He says, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

So let’s take our eyes off of our reflection and consider our purpose. 

We aren’t called to imitate the world’s biased beauty standards. We are called to model our ideals after our perfect Creator, our beautiful Savior.

Remember, God made your body in His image for a beautiful purpose.

So, today, let me encourage you to guard your heart with the truths found in God’s Word and remind you that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.