Overcoming Negative Body ImageSample

Designed By God

Do you ever have negative thoughts about the way you look? Maybe you don’t like the size of your arms or legs, or the shape of your nose or face. Or maybe it’s your weight, and you’ve tried all kinds of things to lose it. These are common ways that we can struggle with our body image.

I began struggling with my view of my body around the age of 10, when I was consistently made fun of for my weight. I desperately wanted to be really skinny and to be told that I was attractive. This led to years of overeating, then under eating, yet I was never able to achieve the look I wanted. Seeing friends and people on TV and online with muscular bodies furthered the shame I felt about my body. I thought that if I were skinnier and had a different nose, that I would be more attractive and valuable.

What started to shift my perspective was meditating on the idea that God did not mess up when He made me. He made me who I am. He made me exactly how I am. Psalm 139:13, written by King David, says “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.” The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians 2:10, which says that “we are God’s masterpiece.”

God did not make any mistakes in creating you. When you were in your mother’s womb, He was hand-designing all of your personality traits and all your physical traits. God made you to be who you are and how you are. God has a purpose for you, just as He did for David, for Jeremiah, for Paul, and for every single person He created. You are distinct and unique. No one has, does, or ever will be just like you. You are an original creation, custom-designed.

Society cannot determine your value or your level of beauty or attractiveness. Neither can the person who harmed you or said hurtful things. All things came into being through Jesus, and apart from Him nothing and no one has been born on this Earth (John 1:3). It is Jesus who determines your beauty and value. He holds the standard. Jesus wants you to know how unique, beautiful, and valuable you are as His creation. He wants you to embrace the person that He has created you to be.

Jesus, You made me. I am valuable. Help me to see myself from Your point of view.