Battling the body in the dress

infographic by Lucia Austhof

It's homecoming season, and most girls are scrambling to find the perfect dress, buy the best shoes, style their hair and get their nails done. None of these things are bad; there is a fun, anticipatory aspect to all homecoming prep, but a strong focus on it can lead to dangerous comparisons and distorted views on one’s body.

With social media usage and the importance of physical appearance growing in modern culture, there is also an increase in body dissatisfaction and eating disorders, especially among young people. The National Organization for Women reports that 78% of teenage girls are unhappy with their body, and that 40 to -60% of elementary aged girls are concerned about their weight or being “too fat.” 

Leading up to the day of homecoming, it's not uncommon for girls to restrict or stop eating altogether; in fact, it is sometimes normalized among friend groups, trying to have the perfect “morning skinny” last all day up to pictures, and if it doesn’t, you may be reminded to “suck in.”  This should not be overlooked as typical. Something that starts as a small insecurity can spiral into dangerous, obsessive behaviors, like eating disorders, overexercising and preoccupation with appearance. This was my experience.

Near the end of last, I developed an eating disorder. It was rooted in a longstanding view of myself as being rejected and unloved, feeling as if I could never be good enough. I began forcing myself to throw up to cope with these lies. Slowly overtime, these behaviors increased—almost becoming an addiction. As the weeks passed, I couldn’t go a week without throwing up, then a day, then a meal. I exercised excessively and punished myself when I missed a day. I reached a low where I was so weak that there were days I could do nothing but sleep; it felt as if my body gave up on me, but the Lord never did.

Taking things to the extreme to look a certain way or gain control does not bring honor to God, but he doesn’t shame you for it. The God of seeing, El Roi, sees you in your hurt and insecurity, and He cares for you. He looks down on you with love and admiration, wishing you could view yourself as He does. The Lord taught me of my value and healed me of my eating disorder. Now I am free to walk in the light of His truth, knowing I am a valuable and purposeful creation. 

Our bodies are created to bring honor to God. They are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14), each one created differently to show His creative and perfect design. In a world that emphasizes outward appearance over the state of your heart, it can be difficult to get your  priorities in line. Body image can easily become an idol, consuming your mind with lies from the enemy. Remind yourself of the truth: “Whatever is true, honorable, noble, just pure, lovely, commendable; if there is anything excellent or worthy of praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

“Sometimes we allow the voice of the enemy to be louder than the voice of God in our heads,” Bible teacher Mrs. Floyd said. “When you get distracted from the voice of truth, from the voice of the Lord, you go down this rabbit hole. But, when you stop and hold every thought captive, you will get better at hearing truth over hearing the voice of the enemy. ” 

You are not your body. The body is merely the temporary physical appearance for life on this Earth. There is much more to you than the way you look. The Bible encourages us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” (Matt. 6:33 ESV) but also to enjoy the gifts that God has given us for our time on Earth, like food: “For man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun” (Ecc. 8:15 ESV)

If you are struggling with body-image or disordered eating, tell someone. You are not alone in fighting this battle; there are people who want to walk with you. Remember your worth is not defined by a number on the scale or the reflection in the mirror, but by the One who created you. Walk in this freedom, knowing you are deeply loved, fully seen and infinitely valuable.