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Sunday, May 3, 2009

An Edited Article

Hey everybody,
So I edited this article I wrote a while ago...


Self-Confidence

Self-confidence means, obviously being confident in yourself. Some synonyms to the term ‘self-confident’ are: confidence, poise, assurance. Sometimes I feel ugly, fat, and dumb. I don’t know about the rest of you, but a lot of times, I struggle with my self-confidence. For us girls, especially, adding insecurity is one of Satan’s favorite ways of discouraging us and weighing us down, sucking us into the trap of worldly doubts and sinful desires. Regardless of our appearance, or our weight, or the size of our brains, we need to hold our heads high­—if we stand alone or if we are surrounded by friends—confident in the knowledge that God loves us for who we are inside, not what we look like, or if we have rolls of fat on our bellies or not.
Today’s society is built on the base of appearances. In most places, even church, the pretty girls are popular, and the ugly girls are not. You’ll have friends if you’re pretty, you’ll have no friends if you’re not. Girls start wearing make-up at earlier and earlier ages, and why? So that they can be more beautiful, of course. My mom started wearing make-up when she was sixteen, and a girl I know is wearing cases of make-up, more than enough, at the age of ten. A few of the welcoming questions that some of my friends ask on meeting are, “How do I look?” or “Do you like my mascara?”
Today’s society thinks that self-confidence comes from outward appearances and popularity, and, often times, how many people have crushes on you, or if you have a cell phone or not. The kind of self-confidence that us Christians should have is in the soul. Your outward beauty will fade quickly. By the time you are fifty, your beautiful hair will be grey, your smooth skin will wrinkle. Whatever beauty you had, you will have no longer. Confidence in your appearance will not last. It is fickle, and transitory. But your inner soul, where your beauty should be, will never fade. You cannot bring your outward beauty of your youth to the Throne when you die. You can only bring your inner self for judgment.
The point I am trying to make is this—Self-confidence really comes from liking your inner self, not what you look like. And liking yourself, not what you look like, comes from the knowledge that God likes you. In fact, he does more than that—he loves you—forever.
So if you’re struggling with liking yourself, please remember that God loves you. I know that this is tough, but remember, when you stand alone, outside the crowd of giggling girls, that God doesn’t care if you’re overweight, or dumb, or if you are the ugliest girl on the planet. Make sure that your beauty lies within—not without—and that you can always walk through the crowd with your head held high, confident in the fact that God loves you—forever—and nothing can change that—ever.
Here are some verses that I found encouraged me on the issue of self-confidence:

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3: 3-4

But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Romans 2: 8

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Matthew 23: 25
Bekah

9 replies:

Hunter said...

Nice post I get the point. We need to fight the materealistic pull of our culture.

Hunter

Hunter said...

I just gotta say it again to get on the widget. (its so cool!)

Hunter

Hunter said...

again cool post. lol!

Hunter

Hunter said...

I gotta get on that list!

Hunter

Hunter said...

come on I'm not on yet!

Hunter

Hunter said...

ohhh nevermind!

Hunter

Jake M. said...

Wow... That was really good!!! And you're completely right!!! We should be giving our attention totally to God and working on beautifying our inner-selfs, not our outward appearences, popularity, ect. Great Post!!!


Jake

Bekah said...

Thanks you guys heehee hey Hunter good job you made the widget list!! :D heehee

Bekah

The Kid In The Front Row said...

The problem is, those outer influences (the media, family members, friends, society at large) - they end up existing in your very own mind.. your inner critic, the voice in your head, ends up sounding a lot like them. If you don't believe me, listen to the critic next time you look in the mirror.

Anyways, over time, you can begin to distance yourself from it - and realize, it's just a voice, it's just something trying to cut you down. You are who you are, which is probably great -- find ways to change the relationship with that inner voice.

Good luck!

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