When God points out something not in alignment with our hearts, the best way to restore it is to get in His Word. 

Few things drive a mother and daughter closer than swimsuit shopping together. Just a few weeks ago, my sixteen-year-old and I found ourselves in a dressing room, laughing hysterically, as we tried on twenty bathing suits, only to have one fit. Let’s just say body parts were coming out of holes the designers didn’t intend them to. I was proud of my daughter’s response because, at her age, I would likely have gone home and starved myself after that awkward encounter with my body.

I’ve come a long way in body comparison, swimsuits, and depressing dressing-room encounters. The older I get, the more I refuse to let how I feel about my body affect the life I want to embrace. But I would be lying if I said I don’t still wrestle. While I won the dressing room battle that day, I’ve had other recent encounters that tripped me up…like when everyone around me seemed to be losing weight on the new fad diet, and I was tempted to jump on the wagon with them. A desire to lose weight isn’t always wrong unless we are motivated to succeed due to envy of others. Which, as Ecclesiastes 4:4 reminds us, is like chasing the wind as we end up exhausted and miserable from the striving.

While the struggles still come, I have determined to wrestle well. Wrestling well looks like leaning on the truth of God’s word when the world is telling us to follow them on a different path.

As we age, new seasons in our bodies will continue to grace us with their presence. Rather than resisting, lean in by asking three powerful questions to ground you in the ever-changing seasons of life.

1. How is my heart? This is a powerful question I often ask those closest to me. If

your heart doesn’t feel right about an area, ask the Lord to place a pin

on what is off. Before making any decisions about changes you want to make in your body, stop and check in with your heart. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

2. How are my words? Luke 6:45 reminds us that “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” When you aren’t sure about the answer to the previous question about your heart, listen to the words you speak about your body. My husband once said, “Stop talking about my wife that way” when I spoke idle words over my body. Our words are an indicator of what’s happening in our hearts.

3. What foundation am I standing on? Much of our body image is shaped by culture and core beliefs rather than God’s unfailing and never changing Word. It requires an intentional time of quieting ourselves before the Lord to get honest about what we are standing on. 

When God points out something not in alignment with our hearts, the best way to restore it is to get in His Word. 

Let His truth, love, and grace wash over your body as you stand on these verses:

●  “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

●  “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” Proverbs 4:26

●  “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25

●  “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” Galatians 6:4

I encourage you to journal these questions occasionally, especially if you struggle with body image. Write the date in your journal entry to be reminded of the words God spoke to you in previous seasons of life. When you notice a recurring struggle, find a verse to stand on by meditating on it day and night until it is written in your heart.

As you answer these three questions, it’s an act of learning to listen to your body. Did you know your body is always speaking to you? To learn what message it might be trying to tell you, head to rachaelgilbert.com/quiz and take the quiz. You will receive more resources, journaling prompts, and therapeutic coloring sheets to embrace your body right where it is today.

Let’s be women who show the love of Christ by wrestling well in these challenging but beautiful moments in life.

While the struggles still come, I have determined to wrestle well. Wrestling well looks like leaning on the truth of God’s word when the world is telling us to follow them on a different path.