I want to tell you something, and it’s not the hollow “You are enough.” I want you to light a votive and experience the truth of what I’m about to say.

How do you see yourself?

By which standard are you measuring?

I ask you to consider if you see yourself in the world’s eyes. If so, likely you are feeling “less than.” Can you relate to feeling too big, too small, too unaccomplished, not smart enough, not enough “likes?” You get that this list is endless, right? The problem is when God is not part of the equation, ideals become false gods. When these ideals are worshipped instead of God, the opportunity for healing in relationship with The Great Healer is lost.

The greatest danger for us as followers of Christ is discouragement. Discouragement comes from unfulfilled expectations. If you look to the world for the standard of beauty, you will feel discouraged no matter what your shape or size. However, our only expectation is to please the Lord, so adjust your expectations! Maybe expect some suffering in this life. Could your struggle be part of a small suffering you are called to? Jesus’ methodology is to elevate suffering by uniting in the commonality of it. We simply are going to suffer in this life. We might as well use it for good. Where are you running into opposition? In what areas of your life are you rejecting suffering?

Trust.

What if you have been given a gift? Perhaps yours is a gift to suffer well for God’s kingdom, with no regard for yourself in the eyes of this world. Could you love yourself then, knowing you were not meant to be all the things the world values? If you could understand that you are everything in the eyes of God according to His purpose for your life, how would that change the way you see yourself and your body? Can you love yourself as “less than” and flawed? Can you be a good friend to yourself?

Too many people resist love and compassion in life because they think they don’t measure up.

Restore us, God, to your Son, created uniquely in your image. Help us identify any idols created by the image of the world...which itself is grossly distorted.

When we compare ourselves to the world, we are simply a mirror of that grossly distorted image right now and need to return our focus to the Divine measurement. Do not see yourself through the eyes of others. Only God’s eyes are without sin. His gaze is steady, sure and untainted. Seek Him first, and everything else will be given to you, according to your need.

As long as we continue to seek to reflect the image of worldly attractiveness, we will never measure up, Instead, we will continue to be distorted and inauthentic versions of ourselves; a reflection of what’s not possible. That is, we will only reflect someone else’s version.

Heal us by the power of your love, Lord. Your pure, glorious image should be the only one we seek to reflect. Let us remember that Christ- poor, wounded and broken, triumphed over sin in the world. Where humility and acceptance intersect is where we will triumph, too.

If God has already told us by his suffering and death that we are everything to Him, then who else do we seek to please? What other approval do we need in order to love ourselves as we are? All is vanity. Walk worthy of the vocation for which you were created, with every gift and talent you have to fulfill it. As we are instructed in the bible, with all humility, mildness, and patience, let’s support one another in charity. Maybe then, we won’t be so hard on ourselves individually. Every word, whether spoken or held in your heart, must be intended for the benefit of yourself and others. This is God’s law. We must not tear down what God has created. Release that negativity. Here’s a little more from Ephesians 4 on what God has to say about unity in the body:

• Live the truth in charity. That is, live your life, nourish your body and soul in truth. Do not walk in the vanity of the mind but rather in the truth of the spirit and in the reflection of God.

• Do not give the soul up to covetousness of the body.

• Put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth.

• Give not place to the devil.

• Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth: but but that which is good, to the edification of Faith; that it may administer grace to the hearers (no negative self-talk!).

God wants to free us from everything that gets in the way of our loving ourselves, others and God himself. Let’s join our hearts in prayer to heal this preoccupation of self so prevalent in our world today. Pray with me. Heal with me.

Restore me to wholeness in my authentic self, the one I was born as, before the world crushed my spirit with it’s false expectations of perfection. Help me to nourish myself in your love, Lord, not in the latest diet, trend, or distraction away from You. Amen.