What Does The Bible Say About Self Image

What The Bible Says About A Woman’s Worth

During my first postpartum I lost weight very successfully on THM with very little effort. My second postpartum period has been quite the opposite, I gained weight while nursing, and now no matter how I tweak the plan, I still am stuck at a horrific weight that I despise. Bible verses about self-image have become very comforting as I’ve sat at Jesus’ feet and asked ‘why?

I have walked this journey many times in my life and I have often contemplated extensively why I tie my worth to my weight. How about you? Are you reading this because your worth is so intrinsically tied to the weight that you struggle with within your faith and relationships?

My self-image has been a journey that has seen more lows than highs. Can I be honest? These are the scripts that have run through my head my entire life. Do any of them sound familiar to you?

You are not beautiful enough to be loved.

You are fat, ugly, and are better off alone and miserable.

You do not deserve anything unless you lose more weight.

Hating yourself is the only good thing you’ve ever done.

If you are going to stay this fat and ugly, you are better dead.

Recently a new one has crept its way in.Once your kids realize how fat you are, they will never love you again.

That’s where I have been for most of my life. I sometimes feel like the apostle Paul when he spoke about the thorn in his flesh . I have pleaded with God to take away my consistent weight struggle, and after years and years he has answered by saying.

Bible Verses About Confidence In God

Whenever you have doubts, turn to the Word of God. There you can find the answer to any of your questions. Here are some Bible versesthat remind us that we can have confidence in God.

Jeremiah 17:7: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

Proverbs 3:26: For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Psalm 20:7: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

1 John 3:20-21:For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Hebrews 10:35: Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

Hebrews 4:16:Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

What Does The Bible Say About Body Image

While I’m sure the internal struggle with body image and comparison has always been present, there may never have been a time in human history where body image has been such a complicated topic. The rise of social media has allowed for an endless flood of images of others bodies, often carefully curated, filtered, and edited. The right bodies are praised with the instant feedback of comments and likes, while bodies that exist outside of the narrow, socially approved range might be sheltering behind the safety of a screen.

Body image is not just an issue for girls. Boys are also inundated with “fitness” inspiration and flexed biceps, communicating the message that you have to be shredded in order to be acceptable. Both genders get the message that they ought to look a certain way in order to be “properly” feminine or masculine.

Personal body image can be further complicated by some well-meaning but misguided messages we absorb from people in our friend circles, families, or church who might tell us that our bodies are bad or shameful, that we should work hard for something other than what we are, or that its wrong to spend any time thinking about our appearance at all.

With so much noise out there telling us how we should feel about our bodies, its important to find more trustworthy voices to listen to.

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What We See In The Mirror

Finally, there is that appraisal one makes of himself. Honesty demands that we concede that self-perception may be grossly inflated. That is why we are cautioned not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought . We must attempt not to be high-minded or wise in own conceits .

If we really knew the impressions that others have of us, we might see ourselves in a totally different light, and thus alter our conduct.

The Scottish poet Robert Burns produced a short composition titled To A Louse. It pictured a snobbish lady in church, pompously looking down her nose at others, wholly unaware of the fact that a louse was upon her bonnet. The ditty contains these lines:

O wad some Power the giftie gie usTo see oursels as ithers see us!

It is important, though, that one have a healthy view of oneself. Jesus said that we should love our neighbor as ourselves . That implies a sound concept of self-esteem.

Sadly, however, many appear to harbor a very meager appreciation of themselvesso much so that it hinders their effective service to God, and torments their lives with much unhappiness.

We believe the Scriptures address this problem, and offer hope to those who are unnecessarily morose due to the malady of an impoverished self-esteem.

In this discussion I would like to reflect primarily upon three areas: the causes, the characteristics, and the cure for negative self-esteem.

Physical Or Emotional Abuse

Abuse can ravage ones self-esteem. Not infrequently a parent or spouse will berate a child or a companion persistently and viciously, so that the feeling of personal worth in the victim becomes almost nil.

An uncaring husband may tell his wife that she is ugly, fat, stupid, or lazy. A good beating with words can be as devastating as physical brutality. Some childrens psyches are damaged enormously by sexual abuse.

Constant, harsh criticism also can wound a youngsters sense of personal pride. Victims of abuse must learn that they can get past these horrible experiences and find true happiness in living.

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God Commands Us To Be Self

1 Timothy 3:2: “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.”

Romans 12:3: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

Titus 2:6: “Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

Ephesians 4:22-24: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Practicing self-control does not equal being legalistic. It is not operated by strict rules. Rather, it is fueled by love. We practice self-control because we love God and we love others. We ask Gods help to enable us to restrain our behavior so that we can be used for His glory and we can serve others well.

Matthew 6:9-13: Lead us not into temptation, we pray, as Jesus instructed. Those words come after weve said, Your kingdom come, Your will be done

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

1 Peter 4:7: “The end of all things is at hand therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”

Our Worth Comes From God

Its also important to remember that our worth doesnt come from our actions, what we look like, or how much money we have. Instead, our worth lies in God. He created us for His honor and glory and for His pleasure. He has known us from the very beginning and values us so very much that He created a plan for sinful mankind, even before the foundation of the world.

Psalm 139:13-14:For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mothers womb. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well.

Genesis 1:27:So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, created him male and female created he them.

If we are made in the image of God, why do we struggle with our worth? Well, because of sin, of course! But our true basis of worth can only be found through faith in Jesus and by accepting His free gift of salvation. As a result, we are precious to God. We were so important to Him, that He sent His only begotten son,

Romans 5:8:But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16:For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Also Check: List Of Fear Not Verses In The Bible

Which Will You Choose In The Battle Of God

I am Gods masterpiece, even after going through drastic surgery and mutilation to my body, God knows and loves me just the way I am. Sometimes I struggle with comparisons, which is a sin, I know. However, in those times of doubt, my Heavenly Father is waiting for me to turn to Him for strength.

We all are battling insecurities. But if we walk in God-confidence vs self-confidence, you will have much more success. Just remember that God has a purpose for us. So we need to serve Him regardless of how we feel about ourselves. I know, though, that I can get all of the confidence that I need simply by putting my faith and trust in Him.

**All Bible Verses are from theKing James Bible Version.

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Self-love has become a huge topic today. Self-love is simply taking action to support your own physical, psychological, and spiritual growth. But what does the Bible say about self-love, self-esteem, or self-worth? If you are a Christian, you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Because we are made in the image of God, we should have self-respect of our body, minds, and souls because God so loved us.

We should be lovers of God instead of being conceited lovers of pleasure. Through the grace of God, we shall not perish but have eternal life. The Holy Spirit is inside each one of us. Turn away from being lovers of self, lovers of money. Our team at Testimonio created a list of encouraging Bible verses about self-love. Find joy in the fellowship with God’s people. Let go of your struggle with self-worth, and find grace in the arms of a loving God.

Read Also: Pray Without Ceasing Means

A Personal Relationship With Jesus

The first step in God-confidence is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you died tomorrow, do you know for sure that youre going to Heaven? Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If your answer to these questions is no, then reach out to Haley here at My One Comfort, or myself , and we will help you. Putting your faith in God for all things means trusting Him in all things. Here are 10 Ways to Learn How to Trust God Completely.

Christian Counseling To Build Self

If you are having doubts about Gods love for you or if you question your worth, you may be suffering from low self-esteem. If understanding what the Bible says about your worth has piqued your interest, my next article will lay out three specific ways in which Christian counseling can improve your self-esteem. I would be honored to help you realize your worth and see yourself through the lenses of the Bible.

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DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

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Our Confidence Comes From God

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

2 Timothy 1:7

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”

Psalm 139:1314

“You are the one who put me together inside my mothers body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this, I have no doubt.”

Proverbs 3:6

“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Proverbs 3:26

“For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”

Psalm 138:8

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”

Galatians 2:20

“I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.”

1 Corinthians 2:35

“I came to you in weaknesstimid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.”

Acts 1:8

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Keep God With You On Your Path

Hebrews 10:3536

“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”

Philippians 1:6

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Matthew 6:34

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Hebrews 4:16

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

James 1:12

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Romans 8:30

“And these whom He predestined, He also called and these whom He called, He also justified and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

Hebrews 13:6

“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’

Psalm 27:3

“Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear though war breaks out against me, even then I will be confident.”

Joshua 1:9

“This is my commandbe strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go.”

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Where Can We Find True Love Acceptance And Confidence

The heart of the self-love movementpursuit of happiness and well-beingis not unfamiliar to Gods design. But it does miss the target. Instead, the Bible teaches that in presence there is fullness of joy at right hand are pleasures forevermore .

The Bible does not diminish the struggle of insecurity or depression. Rather, it offers a greater hope and confidence, one that far surpasses the promises of the self-love movement. It tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us . Through Jesus, we are children of God, and if children, then heirsheirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ . This is our greatest confidence: that the King of kings has adopted us as his sons and daughters, not through any work of our own, but through his great mercy and grace in Christ. He has fulfilled the law so that we may be fully accepted. This truth should instill deep confidence and obliterate all pride.

Bible Verses About Self Worth And Beauty

One of my favorite verses about beauty is Proverbs 31:30. I love it because it really zones in our focus on where our true self-worth lies. This Bible verse about self-image changes the modern-day script of our worth being found in our appearance and instead flips the script on its head and points us back to our creator.

We should not be praised for our appearance, but instead, be praised for our fear or our right relationship with our Lord and Savior.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Our image and appearances will change with time. We all have seen the celebrities trying to turn back time and have that perfect 20-year-old body. God created us to age. He created us for different seasons. The childbearing season will look very different than the empty nester season. Yet both bring a very unique beauty that only can be found if we truly embrace all that the season offers.

Likewise, 1 Corinthians 10:31 slips the modern-day script. We live in a culture of ‘self-care’, ‘self-exaltation’, and ‘self-worth.’ Yet when I look at 1 Corinthians 10:31 I am reminded that all of our actions should be rooted in praising and glorifying God.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

Also Check: Fear Not Bible Verses