Accepting Who You Are – Flaws, Limitations, Weaknesses And All….

But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?'” (Romans 9:20 NIV)

It is a very bad thing when harsh, and mean criticisms about us come from our family members, friends, co-workers or even people in general; but it is even worst when the criticisms about ourselves come from our own mouth. The latter speaks volume to our mind set, our though pattern and even what’s in our heart. Secretly, I believe, we protest against our Creator. We want answers – God why did you appoint unto me such and such ends and purpose and has brought me into being in such a manner and under such circumstances? We look in the mirror and utter ‘foolish’ words such as:-

• I just hate the way that I look.
• I look like a ‘fat cow’ 
• My breasts so big, just wish they were smaller
• My breasts so small, they should have been a size or two bigger
• My nose is so big, I wish it was smaller
• My lips are so thick, they are ugly.
• I wish I was a bit taller or I wish I was shorter
• I wish I did not look so much like my mom or I wish I had my dad’s feature
• I wish I did not have to go through all this mess in my life

Somebody else we think is smarter or better looking. Someone else we believe is more gifted and we wish we had their gifts and talents instead. We wish we had more money, a better job, a bigger house, a more fancy car. And we can go on and on.

Speaking of looks, a few days ago, I overheard a young teen saying, “I look like a fat cow.” Immediately upon hearing those words, I said to her, “No you don’t, and you need to stop speaking so negatively about yourself.”

A few days later, she came up to me and by the look on her face she was clearly very frustrated. The reason for the frustration was not finding the right outfit to fit onto the curvature of her body. In her distress, and at the point of giving up, she said to me, “I would like you to sit me down and give me a little talk to help build up my confidence. Tell me how beautiful I look…..” I said, there you go, you are already giving yourself the pep talk and encouraging yourself.” She replied, “but I need to hear it from you.”

More from Empowerment Moments Blog: The Power Of God’s Acceptance

I began my encouragement by validating what she had just said herself, about how beautiful she looked. I told her that she needed to understand that her weight gain was the result of baby fat still on her body, that she needed not to worry and that the weight will come off eventually. I reassured her that she was not alone and that there are many other women who go through that same struggle. In addition, I helped her to realize that in order to see results, adjustments would have to be made in her diet in terms of what she eat and drink. Exercise I said must be a part of her plan and it must be done on a consistent basis.

Then I went on to share the word of God from Psalm 139:14 that says in part, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” I said I dare you to look in the mirror and tell yourself those words repeatedly. I reminded her that God created us in His own image and after His likeness and when He had finished His work of creating us, He saw that what He had created was “very good.” (ref.Gen.1:31)

To make a long story short, and to bring across my next point, when you do not know and worst yet you know but do not believe what God says about you, it is rebellion. Not only that, it is a form of arrogance whether you know it or not. When you reject yourself, whatever form you choose, in essence, you are rejecting God. Why? Because He is your creator and you were made after His own image and likeness.

In a subtle way, it’s like you saying, “God, you blew it. You did not do a good job of creating me. You should have made me different, with a different body shape, size, and different strengths and weaknesses. Well, I may just have to check the plastic surgeon and get me a better nose job and how about have him enlarge my breasts a bit too….”

It is that easy to sin and to get into trouble with God because you fail to trust Him – to trust Him that He loves you unconditionally, that you are unique and special, and that He shaped and formed you just the way you are to bring glory and honor to His name. He wants you to be you and not you trying to be like somebody else. God has your best interest at heart and He could do no wrong, however it might appear to man.

We short circuit ourselves whenever we doubt God. We carry around inside of us a spirit of low self-esteem, because we are constantly waiting for someone else to validate us. We harbour bitterness that eventually leads to frustration, just like the young lady in this post. Then the sad thing, we are kept from being all who God wants us to be and to do for His glory while here on earth.

It is time you accept who you are and who God called you to be. You have exactly the gifts and talents that God wants you to have. Life would lack lustre and interest if we all looked identical and had everything the same. And whatever it is about you that you wished were different, I encourage you to surrender it to God, trust Him and open up yourself so that He might pour His love into your heart afresh this day.

Your turn….

What is it about you that you wished God had done differently? Okay, I’ll go first. Until I became a Christian and understood what God’s word said about me, I hated my nose and wished it was a different shape and size. I also once hated my past. I thought what I had to endure was mean and cruel and that perhaps God did not like me. Now I know different.