Accepting Yourself As God Created You
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:14)
How can one possibly see themselves as loved, blessed, healed, beautiful, attractive, handsome, unique, special, favored, and secured when we live in a world that is so full of insecure people? The most well known people are not secured. What we see on television and in social media depict altered versions of people. Therefore, we learn as children growing up that when we do not like something about ourselves, rather than seek the Creator who created each and every human being in a special way, we hide by looking to plastic surgery to change our outward appearance, engage in unhealthy habits (sex, drugs, alcohol, partying, cutting), or even wear very revealing wardrobe to get away from our reality, and pretend to be someone we are not just to fit in. God strategically designed us to stand out, with a unique marking, to be in a light in this dark world, and until we come to that acceptance, we will always strive to be like the next person, not at all accepting who we are and who we were created to be.
When you live with this insecure mindset, many times, you end up aborting your dreams completely or giving birth prematurely. How so? Well let me give you an example using my childhood friend and I. When I found out that my childhood friend was pregnant, I was so excited and happy for her however, I would be lying if I stated that I did not feel myself battling with a spirit of comparison. Rather than look at all that I have and all the things that I am doing for myself [having an LLC with a ministry and business behind it; working in my career as a full time school psychologist; dancing as an extracurricular activity; developing a talent with doing my own nails, makeup, and hair; having a social life], I began looking at what I did not have [a boyfriend to say the least and being pregnant] and measuring it up to what she currently has. If I truly allowed that spirit to take over, I knew that I was going to end up placing myself in a position to try to get what she has. That would consist of me getting into a platonic, unequally yoked, not God ordained relationship and eventually become pregnant despite all of the warnings. You see, what the enemy does is make other people’s lives and current state that they are in look so much sweeter and richer than ours so that we can covet what they have, and not enjoy the current season we are in. So that we could lose focus on all that God has done for us and all that is in front of us. The enemy does not want us to walk in our purpose nor be content with what we already have. The enemy does not want us to be happy in our own skin. The enemy’s greatest desire is for us to either abort or give birth prematurely, and because of that, the enemy will do anything to distract us in hopes that we will fall. You have to realize that when you look at someone else’s life, you are only seeing the outward appearance. You don’t see the hell that they go through; the constant tears, the depressed, worried, and anxious mind; the spirits that they have to battle with; and their intense struggles with insecurity. What you see is all glitz and glamour, smiles and happiness. To my naked eye, all I see is my friend pregnant and her outward happiness. But looking deeper, she went through so much and because of that, I would not want her story to be my story. We all have different stories for a reason. Therefore, I had to learn to be grateful. Trying to obtain what my friend has will only cause me misery and pain because I will give up on the things that were assigned to me in the Heavenly realm. Things that would have favored, blessed, and healed me and the generations to follow.
That is why I stress the importance of truly accepting who you are and all that you were created to be. You don’t think God wants to use your “difference” to change the world? I may not have all that my friends have and that is okay! If I do not have it, it’s because I don’t need it for the season that I am in. The same goes for you. Whatever you are struggling with today, I pray that you fix your eyes upon Jesus and seek His Word. He will give you some hardcore truth that will forever set you free (John 8:32).
I am far from perfect. I grew up so insecure that the only thing that has tremendously helped me was turning to Scripture. It did not matter how blessed and beautiful my family and friends saw me. I had to feel it for myself. I had to know it for myself. Through prayer and meditation of the Word, I was able to come into agreement with how God sees me, all that He has given me, and denouce every lie of the enemy. Everything that the enemy said I am not, God reminded me that I am. Everything that the enemy said I am, God reminded me that I am not. I had to put in the leg work. I had to seek the truth in order to raise my head up. Here is some truth that I want to remind you of today:
You are far more precious than rubies and gold. Proverbs 3:15.
I am altogether beautiful; there is no flaw in me. Song of Songs 4:7
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139: 13-14
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16: 7
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 37-39.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 19.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17.
It is this kind of truth that reminds me that I don’t need to compare myself to anyone else. I am perfectly designed. I have everything that I need. I am so loved by God. He created me in His own image. If there is something about myself that I am unhappy with, rather than ignore it, I find the root of what is causing that unhappiness and combat it with Scripture. I don’t need to change who I am to fit in. I need to accept all of me, flaws and all, because He does. He looks past all of my faults, imperfections, scars, and sees me as His child. Such a beauty you and I are to Him!
When you begin to see yourself the way that God sees you, you begin to change. Your thought process is not one that beats yourself up, but extends grace. Your attitude towards those who have done you wrong in not full of hatred but full of peace because you know that God will go before you and fight for you (Deuteronomy 1:30 The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes). You see yourself not as someone who is broken but someone who is healed.
If you are truly struggling with seeing yourself the way that God sees you and accepting who He created you to be, I encourage you to do a few things:
- Get that Bible out!
- Talk to a trusted friend.
- Involve yourself in godly community.
- Seek godly counseling.
- PRAY. PRAY. PRAY (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Don’t live another day insecure. That is another day to give the enemy power over you. If you want the freedom now, put in the work. When you move, God moves. He’s just waiting on you!
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