To answer this question, let’s look to the Word of God. Proverbs 3:15–18 personifies wisdom as a lady, but it also is a good description of how we can teach our children, particularly our girls, to view themselves. Notice that the focus is not on outward appearance but rather on intrinsic value and strength of character.
“She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her” (Proverbs 15–18).
Startling Statistics
The statistics related to women and body image are shocking. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) reports that:
- Of Americans, 28.8 million suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
- Of girls between first and third grades, 42 percent want to be thinner.
- Of children, 81 percent of children are afraid of being fat by the age of ten.
- Of girls ages nine to eleven, 46 percent are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets.
- Of adolescent girls, 35–57 percent engage in crash dieting, fasting, and self-induced vomiting or take diet pills or laxatives.
- Of college women, 91 percent admit to controlling their weight through dieting.
Do any of these statistics shock or surprise you? Many additional studies support these troubling findings.
What is causing so many eating disorders in today’s world? Society and popular culture place intense pressure on girls and women to look thin and beautiful. Look at the magazine covers next time you are in the checkout line at the store. Many magazines portray unrealistic images of beauty.
Sometimes children get their warped perception of beauty from us. Does your daughter hear you talk negatively about your body? Our children mimic what we do and say and then begin to believe it for themselves.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
For this reason, we need to teach our children about self-esteem. We need to teach them that they are God’s creation. We should teach our children to fight off negative voices that tell them they are not beautiful.
Next time you struggle with unhealthy eating habits, have a twisted view of body image, or wrestle with negative thoughts, replace those lies with true statements. Say them out loud. Talk to someone you trust, or reach out for professional help. There is no shame in admitting you need help. The enemy wants to get into our heads and fill our minds with unhealthy, destructive thoughts. Don’t let him. Look to God’s Word and discover who He says you are! God wove us together very carefully when we were in our mother’s womb; He says you are loved, chosen, wanted, carefully planned for, and fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13–14). How amazing is that?
We must stop letting our ungodly society dictate our standards of beauty and look instead at what the Bible says is truly beautiful. Click To TweetWe must stop letting our ungodly society dictate our standards of beauty and look instead at what the Bible says is truly beautiful. Only then can we break the cycle of body image shame that is so prevalent in our culture.
Proverbs 31:30 (KJV)
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
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Cassandra Morton is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Indiana. She is passionate about working with teens and women who struggle with self-esteem, body image and eating disorders. Cassandra is on the team at Greater Purpose Counseling in Indianapolis, Indiana, and she is a member of the Center for Apostolic Counseling.
Book Recommendation
More Than Grasshoppers: Reclaiming Your God-Given Identity by Lee Ann Alexander. In her book, she answers the question: Who are you? This age-old question haunts people of every walk of life as we seek to understand our identity and purpose. This book answers that question in a fresh, engaging approach. Theological topics such as being made in the image of God, navigating flesh and spirit tensions, and living out holiness in a healthy body image and in our social media are tackled in an easy-to-read, non-technical format.
This book will help you discover your identity as an Apostolic child of God. By seeing ourselves as Jesus sees us—loved by Him, made in His image, empowered by the Holy Ghost, and equipped with spiritual gifts—we can triumphantly live out the purpose He has for our lives.