It’s like an issue. A girl issue. A “who I am” issue.
I never really thought about it too much up until I turned 13. I started to take less pictures and cut myself out of videos. I didn’t like my voice, my hair. I wanted to be someone else. It was an identity issue.
Every time I would pass a mirror I would try to put on a remotely cute smile and make sure I looked “good.” Whenever a group of adolescents like me passed me on the street I’d shrink my head and look down. Sometimes I would just scowl at my image in the mirror and pray that I’d change as I grew older.
I’ve felt it. I know you’ve felt it at least once; and so have your friends. We’ve all felt inadequate and unworthy at times. Either we’ve heard it said from people, compared our images to those of celebrities, or just come to some ridiculous conclusions. We’ve all felt flawed before. But we’re not.
Because before the world began, He planned out your life. (Put your name in the blank here) He said,”And I think _____ will be born in _______ and she’ll __________ when she grows up. She’ll have ______ hair and _____ eyes with beautiful ________. And I’m going to make her in the best way that I possibly can. She will be a beautiful creation!” And then He creates us – so proudly – and watches us make our way into the world. He helps us take our first steps, talk, learn to read and write. Then we turn 12 and we look into the mirror and think less than admirable things about ourselves. God looks at us and he says,”O, my daughter? What are you saying? I made you the way you need to be. I am your God. I made you with amazing talent and I love you!”
We try to be perfect looking, like all the cool stuff, try not to be embarrassing by hiding certain avocations, etc.
But God shines on us and says,”You are exactly how you are made to be. You are ____________! And no one should make you hide who you really are.”
We can be who we are! Because we are beautiful. We are smart. We are worthy. We are daughters of the One True King.
Here’s a challenge that really blessed me to get over inadequacy:
Write down everything you are and love doing. Write that you are loved, worthy, and a Daughter of Jesus. And declare it with strength!
My name is Emily
I love my God and He loves moi.
I am strong.
I can do anything with His help (Philippians 4:13).
I am worthy.
I am beautiful.
I am smart.
I love my family.
I love algebra.
I am 14.
I love jumping with my horses.
I love sewing bags and costumes.
I love cosplay.
I love music.
I love blogging.
I love Lord of the Rings and Tolkien fandom.
I love Star Wars.
I love Captain America and Avengers.
I love Spider-Man.
I love Narnia.
I love pirates.
I love thunder and lightning.
I love new adventures and challenges.
I love rain.
I love life.
Then, put down the things that don’t define you.
I won’t believe in Satan’s lies.
I won’t listen to the voices of the world.
I don’t need to be different than who I am.
I don’t need to be anything other than who I was made to be.
Then, add this. And always remember it.
My name is Emily. I know my God and I know who I am.
My dear sisters, I have felt what you felt or maybe are feeling. But we are called to rise. Rise up and live! We don’t need what the world says is “beautiful.” I’m not saying we should not take care of hygiene or anything, but those things shouldn’t define who we are. Christ should. Know God – We are all beautiful creations. Nothing can ever change that. Like. EVER.
So, enough about doom and gloom. I hate writing/reading it, so I want to stop and start talking JOY! I want this post to encourage you, not freak you out. I want to tell you how God changed me and made me not care! Here’s a few tips I’ve learned from my God!
#1. I am Loved
God loved me so much that He died for me. If I didn’t matter to Him, why would He pay for my life with His own?
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but shall have eternal life.”
-John 3:16
#2. I am Beautiful
The Lord says over and over again in His word that we are His crown, His bride, and His love. If the Lord of Lords says that I’m a crown, then I’m a crown! God can’t lie.
When I was reading Isaiah, this verse really touched my heart. I could just see God holding me in His arms and stroking my head. Lifting my head when I’m downcast.
#3. Make Beauty
Whenever I feel weepy and hormonal about anything, my Mom always catches on (and yours probably does, too). So, she makes me a bubble bath, puts on some nice scented candles, dims the lights, makes me a pot of tea, and plays some relaxing music. Some really great things to put in your bath are Epsom salts and essential oils. After I take a bath, it makes me feel special and reminds me that God put the thought of a bubble bath into my Mom’s head. Therefore, the bubble bath was God’s idea.
Other ways to make beauty is to keep my room clean. Now, I can honestly say that I don’t have a clean conscience on this one, because my room is more often than not a mess. But, when my room is clean, I can go in there and relax on the clean covers, read books, write, post something to my blog. My room is sometimes where I go to cry out to God or to thank Him.
Another way to make beauty is to (as hard as it is) get outside and take a walk. Enjoy the nature that God has created for us! And, walking balances hormone levels in our bodies.
#4 – Meditating on His Word
Reading the Bible and praying to the Lord is an excellent way to reflect on all His promises. Writing my feelings in my prayer journal is a HUGE part of my identity. Sometimes people don’t understand it when I say God speaks to me. How? Through the Bible. No matter how crazy it sounds, the message portrayed throughout whatever you’re reading is what God is trying to tell you. When I was having a hard time with my identity, I would cry out to Him that I didn’t feel worthy and on that same day I read the Isaiah 62:3 verse! Isn’t God reassuring?
#5. Talk GOOD to yourself
If God talks greatly about you, the King of kings and Lord of lords, why should you trash yourself? The Apostle Paul said this about crude language to yourself or anyone else:
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
-Ephesians 4:29
The verse says only to say things that build each other up – that means edify yourself with words that tell you you’re beautiful! Because we all are.
Amen
On a final note, I thought of the Peanuts Movie when Charlie Brown is trying so hard to impress his school and (mostly) the “Little Red-haired Girl.” He tries so hard until at the end he realizes that he didn’t have to do anything. He was loved by everyone even if he didn’t see it. He asks the Little Red-Haired Girl,”Why, out of all the people in our class did you pick me to be your partner?” She answers,”Because I’ve seen the kind of person you are.” He responds,”An insecure, wishy washy failure?” Patty and Violet nod their heads shrewdly. The Little Red-Haired Girl replies,”No! That’s not who you are at all…” Then she explains all the times she noticed Charlie’s admirable deeds. He never even noticed them.
It’s like us. We’re so hormonal that we can’t see how amazing and beautiful we are. I pray that these things will encourage you, suilad {elvish for friend}! For they are true. God told me to tell you all about them. He loves u.
Namárië,
Emily Greenleaf
P.S. Here’s a poll to fit the occasion. Last week’s poll proved that everyone wants to be an elf, BTW.
P.P.S. Here’s my latest cosplay status:
Thinking of a Captain America Cosplay next!! Here’s my sketch next to the real Steve Rogers:
And I’m currently working up some plans for an Elizabeth Swann/Will Turner/Jack Sparrow Cosplay for the new Pirates movie Dead Men Tell No Tales next year!! 🙂
Also, today I had an awesome time with my horsey friend Guy. We worked on leg yielding, jumping, and obedience (mostly for Guy 😛 ). Click HERE to go to my Instagram link (where I posted the collage)!
Ok, I think that’s it, folks! Until we meet again! :*
