I Didn’t Know I Struggled With Body Image Until…
I didn’t know I struggled with body image until I had a baby.
As someone who’s been an actress for years, and has been on camera since I was eleven, I’d always felt grateful that I could honestly say I hadn’t struggled immensely with body image. It was there, don’t get me wrong. But it never controlled me. Not the way I watched it control the minds and habits of so many beautiful young women I know and love.
So after having my son, I was shocked to realize how many toxic thoughts were actually floating around in my mind…had they been there all along? Where were they coming from?! Was it coming up more because for the first time in my life, I didn’t recognize myself or feel comfortable in my body??
After I gave birth, I subconsciously felt this mass panic to bounce back.
But I simultaneously felt this deep pull to reject what culture says, and seek the Lord to hear what He has to say about my body.
Here are a few pieces of scripture I found to be incredibly helpful to meditate on:
Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
1 Samuel 16:7: "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart".
Proverbs 31: 30 “Charm Is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
The verse from Romans particularly speaks to me, specifically “pleasing to God”....other translations read “acceptable” to God. As these body image thoughts came and went from my mind, especially early in postpartum, that’s the question I had to keep asking myself…
Is this thought or action pleasing to God? Is it acceptable? Or is it breaking his heart?
It’s not about not having the thought…our culture has engrained many of these ideas in our minds, especially with social media being so dominant. We don’t need to shame ourselves for thinking these things, we just need to ask the Lord, is this thought pleasing to you? And if it’s not, ask Him "Will you help me replace this lie with the truth?”
Sisters, we may have to ask him this weekly, daily, even hourly. Not only is that okay but the act in itself of bringing Him these thoughts and insecurities is pleasing to Him.
I encourage you to pay attention to the thoughts that creep into your mind today about your body. Maybe even write them down…you may be surprised at the toxic thoughts you didn’t even realize lived in there. I write this not as an expert who lives on the other side of this struggle, but as a girl who still desperately needs the Lord's truth and daily freedom in this area.
The good news is the verse after Romans 12:1 is 12:2…and it tells us there is HOPE of overcoming these ways of thinking…
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, pleasing and perfect.”
With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can renew our minds daily. Hand him back your thoughts and let Him renew your mind with the Truth.
Lord Jesus, I invite Your Holy Spirit into my life, my heart, and my mind. Thank you for making me in Your image. As I go about my day today, would you help me notice the thoughts about my body that aren’t pleasing to you? And in Your kindness, would you remind me of the truth about my body instead? Thank you for the grace you give me. I Invite you to renew my mind today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Digging Deeper:
If this topic resonated with you, I encourage you to check out these additional recourses that dive deeper.
Book: Breaking Free From Body Shame by Jess Connolly
Bible Study: Body And Soul By Lisa Whittle
Podcast: Candace Cameron Bure Podcast: Season 11 with Lisa Whittle
