I watched an episode of the Doctor Oz show a few years ago that was dedicated to helping women look good in a swimsuit.
Every woman in the audience looked beach-ready, wearing only her bathing suit (no cover ups allowed). The good doctor talked about all things summer body, including: how to rev up your metabolism, blast cellulite, tone your tummy, and, (the grand finale) how to find a swimsuit that will hide everything if all of his other methods don’t work.
He took some time to encourage the women, ranging in size from 6 to 26. He affirmed that they didn’t have to be airbrushed perfect to be beautiful. Ironically, this pep talk was delivered as they held the plank pose to firm their abs.
Through the segments, the women awkwardly stood there, nodding and smiling as they tried to figure out where to put their hands and arms so as not to hide their bodies (they were told not to do that). They tasted the magic fat-burning concoctions that would help them look good in a swimsuit (grapefruit juice, apple cider vinegar and honey) and learned about a new firming cream.
Does Dr. Oz have the answer? Is this how you (finally) feel good about yourself in a bathing suit?
You simply repeat, “I’m a real woman not a Photoshopped magazine model” 100 times a day and then–after drinking his recipe for special weight loss kool-aid and getting a $200 suit that features an extra layer of lycra–you will finally, once and for all, feel fabulous on the beach this summer?
I don’t think so. I think if you want to look good in a swimsuit (and more importantly, feel good) takes something else entirely.
Here’s why I know that doesn’t work. I have friends that stare at the scale and see the number 200. I have other friends that look down and see 120. Both have equal amounts of displeasure with their bodies. Sure, my heavier friend would say to my lighter friend that she doesn’t understand her plight. But, the scale is a wicked master and if you are its slave it will make sure you are never content.
So, how does the Gospel help? It seems like a stretch, doesn’t it? Could the Gospel of Jesus Christ really help me feel better in my tankini?
Yes. Here’s how: if I whole-heartedly believe that I am accepted by God through Jesus and believe that Jesus loves me so much that he would die for me . . .
Why in the world would I worry about being accepted by anyone else?
If I truly had a kingdom perspective, where I understood that this is just a temporary place, a temporary body, and a temporary condition, why would I fixate on the digital readout from a box on the floor? Why would I care so much about how to look good in a swimsuit?
If I was able to fully understand, grasp, and comprehend God’s love for me–would I ever have cause to be body conscious again?
If I could just grasp the magnitude of God the creator in relation to us, the creation, I would have no reason to be afraid of what others think of my thighs. God loves me even when they touch in the middle, so what does anyone else’s opinion matter?
If I could understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and believe it, my desire to look good in a swimsuit wouldn’t really matter very much.
Because, frankly, it doesn’t.
I don’t have this mastered. But, I’m working on it.
One side of the struggle is getting rid of my idol of beauty–or, as Dr. Tim Keller refers to it–the idol of body image. I believe that a certain body image will “save” me.
By salvation, of course, I don’t mean that I think I’ll go to heaven if I’m thin.
But, instead, I think I’ll find heaven here on earth if I look a certain way or wear a certain size–then, I’ll be totally accepted and admired. I replace what is true. There will never be anything close to the magnificence of heaven here on earth, (even if everyone wanted me on the cover of their magazine), with a fantasy. It’s an idolatrous fantasy. A fantasy where I am great enough to save myself if I can just lose another 15 pounds and where salvation’s reward is having people think I’m cute and look good in a swimsuit.
Wow, did I really just confess to being that lame?
Now, don’t read in what I’m not saying. We are to be good stewards of our bodies. There is nothing wrong with losing a few pounds (or more) if you need to. Taking care of the body God gave you requires a certain amount of attention. I love helping people lose weight because they do feel better, physically.
But, what I also notice is that unless their hearts are aligned with Jesus, they get disappointed when they realize weeks or months later that weight loss was not enough. All of the insecurity doesn’t go away just because the number on the scale went down.
Want to know how to look good in a swimsuit?
Change your perspective. Change your heart.
Allow the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his incredible love and complete acceptance of you to transform your life that you don’t have time to obsess over your “problem areas.”
Allow him to transform your heart, then he’ll help you work to change your body.
Better than Dr. Oz, only He can rid us of our need to look good in a swimsuit.
He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 136: 23
Would you please consider Pinning this image or sharing it with a friend?
[mc4wp_form id=”4141″]
I love this. Thank you for your honesty and also pointing us to Jesus! I think this is a true honest battle we deal with as women in this culture. I love how you say that you are working on it! I know I am a work in progress. I am grateful to other sisters in Christ that help remind us to remember that our identity is in Christ. When we really get this (which can be a challenge) deep into our hearts, I believe it will make all the difference…On a similar note, I’m curious of your thoughts about Christians wearing bikinis? I find this to be a tough and confusing topic. My friends and I have joked that whoever invented the swimsuit must be a man because we feel like we are walking around in underwear, it’s just waterproof! LOL. How to wear a bathing suit and not feel as though you’re revealing more of yourself then you would to a potential mate. LOL Anyway, interesting food for thought…how to not be religious, how to honor God and find that place that you can decide what to swim in…
~ Sybella
Of course I know God loves me that is not where my problem lies yes he loves every inch of me but you can’t say that what your husband thinks of your bidy don’t matter(i’m not saying you said that) i’m referring to the part about anyone else. I mean he is the one that has to see me naked every day God isn’t having sex with me God isn’t a flawed human being
You are right, Willow. Since we are one flesh with our husbands their opinions do matter. We should do the best we can with what we got for them. But, it’s important to keep this in the context of a loving, nurturing relationship. If the husband’s demands for his wife’s physical appearance are rooted in unrealistic expectations derived from viewing too many airbrushed, perfect bodies…then the husband is not living with his wife in a loving and grace-filled way, caring for her in the way Christ cares for and loves the church. Beyond that – I think sometimes we assume that we don’t meet our husband’s expectations–that we are letting them down–when in reality, they are content. The problem is in our hearts, our view of our own bodies that are keeping us bound and trapped by insecurity. If you do need to lose weight or change your body in a way that would be healthy, I’ve also found that this is much easier to do with the support of a husband and an understanding of how loved and accepted we already are in Christ. Doing it under the scorn of a husband who is body shaming and feeling like we “must get a better body” to be loved–becomes an obstacle to accomplishing physical fitness goals. Prayers for you my friend as you sort through these issues of the heart and body.
YES! YES! YES! Going to share this with my Study with Kate ladies. This is powerful and timely. Thank you.
Thanks, Kate! 🙂
Well stated!! Those of us who constantly fight our weight must keep God’s Truth in our heads!!
Well stated!! Those of us who constantly fight our weight must keep God’s Truth in our heads!!
Wow, thank you for this. Just the reminder I needed
Thanks! I hope it blesses and encourages some women out there today…this is an area that I truly believe we all struggle in! Thanks for reading.
Wow, thank you for this. Just the reminder I needed
Thanks! I hope it blesses and encourages some women out there today…this is an area that I truly believe we all struggle in! Thanks for reading.
Wow, thank you for this. Just the reminder I needed
Thanks! I hope it blesses and encourages some women out there today…this is an area that I truly believe we all struggle in! Thanks for reading.