We all have insecurities.
Just because we’re Christians doesn’t mean we won’t feel insecure at times. It just isn’t a fact of reality.
It’s a lie that Christians don’t feel unsure, worried, or unfit. We feel those things daily.
I have a confession; I have warts.
No, not two or three or even ten. Last I counted, I had about fifty warts. On my hands alone. Children have asked me numerous times what was on my hands.
I am self-conscious about my hands. Sometimes I hide my warts with Band-Aids, hoping desperately that people will overlook them; or I try to hide my hands under my chin, hoping no one will stare at me and think I’m ugly.
I’ve tried treatment after treatment, but I’ve had warts for about a year.
I want to let you know that it’s okay to feel self-conscious.
It’s okay to feel ugly and insecure and gross.
But because God loves us with such an incredible love, we don’t have to feel ugly when we look in the mirror.
We don’t have to feel insecure when we walk down the school hallway. We don’t have to feel unloved when someone asks us why we look the way we do.
We are God’s creations. We are His masterpieces.
Close your eyes and think about that for a moment.
The God Who created heaven and earth made you. The God Who paints the sky every morning made you. The God Who split the waters and turned water into wine and multiplied a small lunch to feed thousands made you.
And He made you to be you. He made you perfectly because He made you in His image.
You will not always feel pretty or confident or perfectly made. But we can’t trust our feelings.
It seems like no one else on the whole planet has fifty warts on his or her hands. It feels like I’m the only one. (Obviously I’m not, or else there probably wouldn’t be Compound W.)
But when I look at the hands around me, all I can do is sigh.
Isn’t there anyone else who feels like me? Who feels ugly? Who feels alone?
Know that you aren’t alone. God holds you in His hands.
Fortunately, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks but your Savior. No one else is the King of the world. No one else loves you with an amazing love. His opinion matters first and foremost.
You’re not the only one with acne or big feet or fifty warts or uneven eyebrows. But even if you were, it wouldn’t matter.
God made you the way you are for a reason. Maybe you can be a testimony to others and proclaim that it doesn’t matter how you look on the outside but how you look inside.
Maybe you can encourage your friend who struggles with insecurity himself.
I know my article is somewhat cliché. You’ve heard a million times that you were created in God’s image and are therefore wonderfully made. You’ve heard that you’re not alone. You’ve heard that there are others out there just like you.
Sometimes we need to hear things a million and one times before they finally click.
Truth is, everyone is self-obsessed. Most people probably don’t even notice your acne or large feet because they’re concentrating on themselves and their own insecurities.
Usually, those who act like they have it all together are the most insecure.
You may not be able to wish away your so-called issues. You may not be able to hide your insecurities. You may not be able to put on a brave front.
But we are able to run to the feet of Jesus and praise His name because in Him, we are secure.
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Thank you for this post, @Grace M.! It really hits home. Keep writing!!!
Yea, I DO!!! Its completely normal to feel ugly! But God loves us and finds us beautiful! Your not the only one! 🙂
Thanks Grace for posting about such a sensitive and difficult issue. Most people believe that worrying about how you look is mainly a “girl” problem, but this is not the case. As a guy, I struggle with separating peoples opinions and worrying about what other people think of me from what God really sees. Know that you are not alone! In some ways, I am thankful that God did not make me super attractive!! Then I would always be “second guessing” people for their compliments and how they treat me. When you are “less” beautiful then other people on the outside, then you know that people who are attracted to you base it on something they see in you!
Thank you so much for this, Grace. I’m one of those people who has to hear things a lot before i really understand it. Keep writing, my friend! Well done 🙂
Thanks, Grace!
Thank you soo much for sharing Grace!
Thank you Grace for posting! Like Bryson, I worry about what people think of me. I’m adopted and I don’t look like my parents. In fact, at my parish and it’s school there are only about 3 Asian families. Almost everyone else is white. So I feel like I’m a brown stick on a white sandy beach and that’s REALLY hard for me. So I’m really happy that you posted about this and I hope you post more!
Thank you Grace! You’re right – these simple truths sometimes take a long time for us to understand.
Thank you for this article.
Thank you for all your kind comments! I hope this article has encouraged you! Hang on to God’s Truth! God bless you! 🙂
On the other hand, there’s also the trap of feeling TOO secure. Like yeahhhhh don’t my new Ray-Ban glasses look great????? And my awesome Vans shoes ohhh yeahhhhhhh #swag. That’s the trap I fall into, feeling secure in myself and not in God. But thanks for writing! =)
Grace, thanks for writing and sharing. This is a reminder I need often.
Also, if it makes you feel any better, growing up, I also had tons and tons of warts on both my hands and I also tried so many things to get rid of them, but nothing worked, yet I would still pray that God would just take them away. Eventually one day I realized I had no more warts on either of my hands, even the nasty huge ones were gone. Sadly after years of all the warts being gone, I have recently had two pop up again. I think almost all of my siblings (I have 8) and I have had to experience warts on our hands or else where, so we all know how it feels. 😉
Thank you, Hannah, for that encouragement! I hope one day they will go away. I do have less than I had before. The dermatologist said I only have 28 on my hands. Hopefully one day soon they’ll be gone:)
I so sympathize with you. I have often said that our eyes can be our biggest handicap when meeting people. People automatically judge often with no ill-intent. We live in the most insecure world where young people are constantly looking to be perfect and comparing themselves one with the other. It is devestating to many who don’t see themselves as pretty and attractive to others. The only successful way to overcome these unfair critiques from others is to immerse yourself in God’s Word. It is healing and helpful. All of us struggle with something in our lives that we can’t pray away. But we can ask The Lord for strength and the knowledge only He can give us of our worth in Him. Keep knowing that you are loved and that God always has your back.
God bless you!
Jean
I know how you feel. :/
Great article Grace and so good to hear again! I recently heard a guy say that we shouldn’t be afraid of what other people think because everyone is to be busy thinking about how they look and what others think of them, so no one is really looking at you, we all feel the same way! But it’s also true that we’re all made and seen as beautiful by our awesome King and that’s truly all that matters!
Yeah, I bet as you get older you will grow out of them. I think that is what happened for me. And I am glad they are diminishing. 😉
What you said may seem cliche to you, but what gives it power (besides it being the truth), what makes it REAL is that it’s something you’re putting into practice yourself, despite and in spite of circumstances. And that’s commendable. And encouraging to others. =v) Thank you!
Thank you, Grace. Thank you.
Thank you all! I appreciate the encouragement! 🙂
Thank you, Grace! It’s surprising how easy we forgot such a simple and important truth: we’re God’s masterpieces! That’s why He loves us ecxatly as we are. I wouldn’t be able to say it better than you did. 🙂
And…I also have warts and I perfectly understand you.
“Charm
is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” -Proverbs 31:30
Dear Grace, my daughter is struggling with the same thing right now. She didn’t get as many as you but had several. Just to let others know, warts are the outcome of having a virus in your skin. I had a few of them when I was a young person. They are very hard to get rid of, but require the kind of perseverance and commitment we are trying to develop as Rebelutionairies. Remember all of life is a training ground for eternity. Our Father is the most frugal being in the universe. Nothing goes to waste. Especially not trials. The growth you are secretly experiencing in this time is preamble to a destiny. Remember we share in Christ’s sufferings. You are not suffering alone. God bless you.
We are all God’s creations, and He loves us the way we are. We are fallen sinners, but He has picked us up. God bless you all and thank you. 🙂
Oooh, a new profile pic! I like it! 😀
“Sometimes we need to hear things a million and one times before they finally click.”
That is very true, Grace:) Thanks for this article.
It’s really on the inside where I feel the ugliest…wishing for a more beautiful heart. I can get so caught up in my own sinfulness and imperfections that I forget I am washed Christ’s blood and clothed in His robe of righteousness. Before God I am beautiful, even though I still mess up, make mistakes, and say the wrong thing. Where I see an ugly heart, God sees a diamond in the rough, slowly growing polished and glittering beneath His working hands.
Yea I feel insecure about being short. I am 17 and only 5″2 and many people think I am 12 year old or some thinks I was five. Well thanks for sharing . The lord will love us no matter what we look like.
Right now I’m struggling with the social aspect of school. I have really really hard classes and really really big classes and I never get to talk with people who used to be my friends last year and now they’re not. So I don’t get to talk to a lot of people but I talk to a lot of other people. And the people I don’t talk to think I’m mean and/or stuck up and that makes me wanna cry so bad. I’m a bad friend, I know I am because I don’t find time to spend with or talking to my friends and they grow away from me and it hurts.
I try to remember that God is my friend and he loves me and no one else matters but I still hurt. And I still hate this year because I feel alone and exiled.
I hate insecurity, and I hate that it’s so much ammunition for satan. But I can’t stop it.
Thank you so much! Finally see the real me. Haha!
Mallory, that was beautifully said!
Thanks, Haylie:) It wasn’t very easy to say.
Thanks for writing!! I needed to hear this!! The title stood out and I can really say yes to the question sometimes. I know I’m not the only one.
“Fortunately, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks but your Savior. No
one else is the King of the world. No one else loves you with an amazing
love. His opinion matters first and foremost.” – the highlight for me
Thank you, Gabrielle!
I appreciate comments!
Hi, Grace!
I just want to thank you so much for this post. 🙂 It really encouraged me! This past year I have had horrible acne (and a lot of sad, depressed days). For me, stress (and roller-coaster emotions) seemed to be the main factor. It turned into a cycle for me, and I was really struggling to remember that God loved me and uses all things for good. And then I would feel guilty for doubting His purposes, and the cycle would continue! I really identify with what you said about looking at others and feeling alone- all of my friends and family have flawless skin! And none of them seem to worry about God’s love.
Although the acne’s calmed down, now I have the scars to deal with… and always the fear that it will come back. And I still worry, because common sense and the knowledge of my own heart make it seem impossible that God loves me- my emotions constantly lie to me. But I know Whom I have believed (or rather He knows me), and despite how I feel about the situation, God forgives me for all my doubt and worry. He is my Healer! Even if it all comes back, even if my scars never heal, even if I missed important opportunities by focusing so hard on this- I know that God loves me, forgives me, has good plans for me, and is greater than my heart (and all the feelings it contains!).
Thank you for reminding me that God uses even our ugliness, and that sickness is not a sign of His disapproval. His love is everlasting and covers everything. You are not alone, Grace! We’re all right there with you. And God’s love is so great that He looked death in the face and was satisfied- because it meant He would be with us for eternity. (Isaiah 53:11)
~Emily <3
Thank you, Emily! I appreciate it!
Satan can use anything to deceive us and lie to us and pull us away from God. But you’re right! God loves you, and there’s other people struggling with insecurities too.
God bless!
Very well said mallory!
O my goodness I’m not the only one who has been dealing with insane acne!!! I mean, I know I’m not the only one that deals with bad acne , but nobody else that I know has an acne problem like I have been having. So I definitely understand , and I know that stress has a huge factor in mine, but I’m so thankful that God loves me despite my flaws!!! I’m so glad that His love covers all and no matter what I feel like I am His child, His treasure!!!
Amen!!!!
Thank you soooooo much for writing this
post!!!!!!! I do have my insecurities , but mine are mainly in the form of acne , and it can be extremely frustrating, but thank you so much for reminding me that God sees me in a whole different way than I see myself. He died for me , loves me, and made me uniquely special, and that is something so special! That is something that I definitely need to focus on a lot more than focusing on myself. You are so right when you say that we are self absorbed because we are! That is our society. I need to change my perspective and see myself the way my Lord sees me cause that is what truly matters. Thank you again for writing this and helping me and so many others who deal with insecurities of all kinds.
God Bless
P.S. God is sooooo good!!! Through prayer and speaking faith words of healing over my skin, my skin is actually looking a lot better!!! All things are possible to him who believes!!!!!!
That is wonderful news, Allie! Thank you for your encouragement! Also, about a month ago, we tried a new treatment for my warts; and almost every wart on my hands are gone. God is our incredible Healer!
Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad that treatment is working for you! God is an incredible Healer!