The pressures of having a certain body type exist 365 days a year; they never take a break and seem to find me wherever I turn. Even more confusing is that trends seem to change every few years, and no matter what they are, I don’t seem to fit them.
For my whole life, I’ve felt the world telling me to be different, to try harder, to do whatever it takes to become what culture says is “right,” “acceptable,” and “attractive.” It’s exhausting! But heaping on guilt and shame isn’t God’s hope and expectation for me or you in any area of our lives, including our body image.
You’re Not Alone
Struggling with negative body image is more common than you might think. Many people—men and women, young and old—wrestle with how they see their bodies.
For some, feeling pressure from external factors like diet culture, weight stigma, fitness influencers, unhealthy relationships, and unrealistic beauty standards causes insecurity. For others, mental health challenges lead to unwanted thought patterns and behaviors.
God loves you exactly as you are and doesn’t want you to live trapped in anxiety, shame, and comparison.
No matter your story, God loves you exactly as you are and doesn’t want you to live trapped in anxiety, shame, and comparison. If you’re currently struggling with an eating disorder or negative body image, it’s time to get help. You can visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders to talk to someone today.
Finding Hope in God
Very early in my life, I developed strong beliefs about what I should look like, how I should eat, and how I should exercise. These beliefs led to an obsession fueled by desperation and shame to look a certain way.
If I didn’t like the image I saw in the mirror, I’d ask, “What’s next?” Not knowing what that one little question would cost me, I found myself ten years into a lifestyle marked by negative body image, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression.
My relationships were struggling, the people who loved me were concerned, and I was angry at the life I was wasting. I couldn’t see hope or a way forward, but one thing remained: the knowledge that I had the Holy Spirit living within me, and with His guidance and my willingness, a path toward healing would be made. I just had to have the courage to take it.
If you’re feeling insecure—believing you’re unworthy until you become this or that, stuck in self-doubt or certain that someone else could fulfill your calling better—it’s time to allow God’s truth to overcome those lies. You are a work of art, created by the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)!
5 Biblical Truths to Help You Overcome Negative Body Image
If you’ve ever felt dissatisfied with your body shape, size, or appearance, know this: You’re not alone, and your worth isn’t determined by how you look. The Word of God offers truth, hope, and the path to healing when you’re facing negative body image or eating disorders.
Here are five biblical truths to help you see yourself as He does.
1. God Made My Body for Good
From the beginning, God declared His creation good—including your body. Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are made in the image of God. That means your body is not a mistake or something to be ashamed of. While society often places too much emphasis on physical appearance, God sees you as His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).
I was created to show the love of God and share the gospel to bring others into a relationship with Jesus. Understanding how my wrong beliefs about myself hindered my ability to live out my calling refreshed my courage. I was able to face the beliefs I’d been holding on to and renew my mind to be in alignment with my Creator.
2. My Body Is a Home for the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. That means God values and dwells within you, no matter your body size or shape. This means that your body is not something to punish, but something to honor.
I remember reading 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 a few years ago as if I were reading it for the very first time and realizing that God was calling my body sacred. It was mind-blowing to me that this is God’s view of our bodies. In a culture where bodies are viewed as objects of worth, status, self-discipline, work ethic, sex, and a depiction of character, God simply calls them sacred. This one word changed everything about how I began to approach caring for my body.
Aim to treat your body with kindness and respect as a means of worshiping your loving God.
When you feel self-conscious about your physical appearance, remember that your body is a sacred space. So instead of pursuing impossible standards, aim to treat your body with kindness and respect as a means of worshiping your loving God.
3. Physical Health Is Part of My Discipleship Journey
Caring for your physical health is a way to honor God, but it should never become an obsession. Many people feel pressure to pursue a specific body image promoted by social media and society. However, when we view physical health as part of our discipleship, we understand that it’s not about appearance but stewardship.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Mark to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This means that pursuing sustainable habits can be an act of worship. This looks a little different for everyone, so don’t let comparison lead you. Instead, explore what it looks like for you to create sustainable, healthy habits.
Romans 12:1 NIV says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Day by day, moment by moment, I offer my body to God as a living sacrifice. This habit of sacrifice has led me to make consistent choices for my body that I feel are in alignment with His good and pleasing will rather than choices that come from a place of pride, shame, or pressure.
4. I’ll Find Wholeness When My Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health Align
God invites us to see ourselves through His eyes. When we align our physical health, mental well-being, and spiritual growth, we experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers (John 10:10). After all, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), and God cares about every part of who we are.
If you’re struggling with body image concerns, take a step back. Are you prioritizing your mental and spiritual health as much as your physical health? Seeking professional support, prayer, and biblical encouragement can help you move toward healing.
5. Relationships Can Guide Me Toward Healing
Healing from negative body image doesn’t happen overnight, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Surrounding yourself with a community that values self-worth beyond physical appearance is crucial.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” The right relationships can fight the negative messages that lead to poor body image.
Again, If you’re experiencing any kind of body dissatisfaction, consider early intervention through counseling, mentoring, or accountability partners who can remind you of God’s truth.
Sharing this aspect of your life with others can feel scary. The enemy wants you isolated, believing no one will understand and you will be judged rather than loved. But the moment I stepped toward freedom was when I brought in trusted relationships to encourage me and speak truth over me in the hard times. I believe that support is out there for you, too!
Don’t Let Comparison Steal Your Joy
Your value is not found in your body shape, weight, physical appearance, or capabilities. When you feel tempted to compare yourself to others or pressure from the world’s standards, return to these biblical truths. You were created by God for a purpose, and He loves you as you are.
Healing from negative body image is a journey, but with God’s truth, the right support, and a shift in focus, you can develop a healthier, more joyful perspective on your body and life.
We can cling to the truth God declares over us: We are chosen, redeemed, and so very loved.
The truth is, God has an assignment for us today—not later, when we’ve hit a certain goal or achieved a specific weight, but right now! He has a purpose for each of us that no one else could fulfill. Even in the moments we lack confidence and feel like we don’t measure up, we can cling to the truth God declares over us: We are chosen, redeemed, and so very loved.
Rather than conforming to the patterns of this world by setting resolutions to drop a certain number of pounds, cut something from our diets, or use a holy fast to mask what is really an excuse to diet (or was that just me?), we will choose to keep it simple.
We will glorify God with our bodies by offering them as a sacrifice because we know this is the way to true worship. That’s it! This means that, yes, we do take care of our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. But it also means that, instead of focusing on our body image, our mission is to take hold of our identity in Christ and believe that we truly are all He says about us.
For more biblical insight into eating disorders, check out my Bible Plan: 7 Days of Hope for Overcoming Eating Disorders.