Wonderfully Made (Be Like This)

 

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

Psalm 139:14

As we approach the National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, image and perception issues abound.

I recently saw two posts on the internet.

 

The first was this cartoon...

 

And the second was the following statement...

 

 

That’s the crux of much of this disordered image stuff, isn’t it? Now I know eating disorders are complex, multi-faceted diseases with many different contributing elements going on.

Still, it needs to be addressed how culture and our society at large are more often, part of the problem, not the solution.

So, with that in mind, let’s apply God’s View of us as solution, even as we, unfortunately, contend with this thing called “culture.”

First God and society do not think the same way about our human value...

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

He sees more and, unfortunately, our culture predominantly sees the external...

“…God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the LORD looks into the heart."

1 Samuel 16:7

Society judges by appearances. If we don’t have the right look, the right clothes, the right car, the right house, the right job or anything else “right” under the sun, society dismisses us.

And this really hits home concerning body image and weight.

“Thin is in” has been a part of our lexicon for years.

But again, concerning anything regarding us, especially our value, there is much, much more to the story. God thinks differently, far more completely. He knows and sees everything, including everything about how extraordinary we are.

Next, God is pleased with who we are.

“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

This is a groundbreaking sentiment as many of us have not been affirmed or encouraged to accept and celebrate ourselves.

But God DOES...

“I have chosen you and have not cast you away.”

Isaiah 41:9

In our culture, rejection runs rampant. Again, because of its judgmental stance, prizing external appearance over all other attributes, we repeatedly get the message of how, in one way or another, we are not wanted.

But, again, God views us differently. At any given time, in spite of what we do, God wants us; He chooses us. He desires to be involved with us.

And, wherever and however we are, He still is working with and in us, to give us a better, more fulfilling quality of life...

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

This constant, ongoing work of change resides not because He rejects or hates us. Rather, He loves us beyond our finite understanding. We mean so much to Him.

“Since you were precious in my sight… I have loved you…”

Isaiah 43:4

What would/could happen if we received a fresh revelation of that, right now, right where we are?

No matter what our life experience, God loves and wants us to experience more of this truth for ourselves.

He wants us to accept how wonderfully made we are; He wants us to encounter His love.

And He doesn’t need society’s permission to do just that.

Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse