Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2 & 26-31

Brief Overview:

In God’s creation story, as told in the Bible. Everything God created, He called “good.” It wasn’t until He created human beings(us) that he said everything was “very good!”

The challenge we have as humans is that we do not describe ourselves as God sees and describes us. We use flawed human descriptions of us. This is what keeps us saturated in low self-worth.

As a young woman, I was always confident in my body until the fibroid tumors started growing in my uterus. I then thought that after a hysterectomy (surgery to remove my defective uterus) early this year, all my “struggles” would be over. I had no clue that it takes time for the body to adjust. Long story short, the struggle has been real. I am still struggling with bloating in my belly on a regular basis.

Initially, I was very insecure about my looks, and I would hide from my husband to get dressed. After several months of doing this. I got tired!! I decided to be vulnerable with my husband about my insecurities, and it freed me to live confidently. I had to be vulnerable to begin healing.

The truth is that he didn’t even see me the way I saw myself. That’s kind of how it is. People hardly notice what we think they notice about us. People care more about how we make them feel.

You might say, why didn’t you simply get surgery to cut out the fat from your tummy? After all, that’s common now a days. Well, research shows that cosmetic surgery patients are satisfied with physical results, but self-esteem, depression, etc. Linger.

I recently spoke at a retreat for women, and I had them do an activity that revealed to them that all of the people we admire in society, we admire not simply for their physical beauty, but because of how they make us feel about ourselves, and/or how they show us what is possible in life: Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Mariam Makeba (one of my own favorites,) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Madonna, Malala Yousafzai, Beyoncé, etc. This about them; what do we really admire about them?

Think about this exercise. Who do you admire most? Why do you admire this person? Does it have to do only with beauty, or does it have to do with how they make you feel about yourself, or how they show you what is possible in the world?

The lesson: Character building is more important than physical beauty. We may remember a beautiful girl every now and then, but we will never forget a girl who made us feel beautiful and worthy.

Conclusion:

We can only have confident beauty when we define our lives based on meaning and purpose. God called us “very good,” because he created us for a purpose…to be a PRESENCE in somebody’s life in a positive way. God was satisfied with what he created; it was “very good” to Him! That means that you are perfect in the eyes of God! He created you perfect!

THAT is beautiful! Be confident in that! And remember that every time you question your beauty!

Comment below and let’s dialog about this very important topic: What do you need to be vulnerable about? How are you holding on to God’s words to increase your confidence?

Reference:

1. Body Image
2. Plastic Surgery Doesn’t Boost Self-Esteem