The Lies We Believe About our Bodies

Satan is a liar (John 8: 44b). We know this, yet sometimes we find ourselves allowing his lies to permeate our minds. His lies touch many areas of our life, but one place they seem to flourish revolves around how we view our bodies.

Body Image in the World

As believers, God has set us apart from this world (Romans 12:2). But because we live in the world, we are constantly bombarded with its views and opinions. The world seeks to define our success, dictate how we spend our time, convince us that certain products will make our lives easier, and shape our ideas of an ideal and beautiful body.

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. –1 Peter 3: 3-4

Everywhere we turn, we are confronted with images promoting idealized and often impractical standards for our bodies: their size, shape, and features. These images perpetuate false ideas. For instance, thinner women are more desirable, or muscularity is paramount to masculinity. We are inundated with messages that convince us that aging is not to be embraced but fought, evidenced by the abundant offering of anti-aging products for wrinkles and dyes for grey hair. Even our clothing choices are influenced, with ads targeting young men and women suggesting that less attire equates to sexiness.

Companies and individuals readily capitalize on society’s obsession with body image, marketing an endless number of products, gadgets, programs, and services designed to help us achieve our culture’s version of the “perfect” physique. We could easily deplete our bank accounts chasing the latest trends and their empty promises.

Negative body image can lead to serious physical and mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and other unhealthy behaviors. The world often links self-worth to physical appearance, which can trigger ongoing self-criticism, a focus on perfecting our external appearance, and a continual need for external validation. We see this mindset contradicted in Galatians 1:10—“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Body Image According to God

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27

We are God’s masterpieces, every detail intricately designed (Ephesians 2:10). Of course, there are certainly days I need to remind myself of this truth, like when my body aches, a new line appears on my face, or when the endurance of my younger years is a distant memory. Yet, when I pause to think about the intricacies and complexities of our bodies—how our hearts beat to keep us alive, how our immune systems fight off infections, how our brains process vast amounts of information, and endless other marvels—I come to the conclusion that the body is truly miraculous and such a wonderous gift from God.

God deeply cares about the condition of our hearts, not our outward appearance. He is concerned with our genuine faith, our humility, the ways we are caring for and loving others, and our obedience to His call on our lives. He cares about how we are living out our daily lives—whether we are choosing to put Christ first in our lives, allowing His teachings and divine purpose to guide our steps.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. They are sacred temples that should be treated with care, respect, and honor. Our bodies carry us out into the world to love, serve, and share the Gospel with others. They are instruments that help us further the Kingdom of God on earth.

As Christians, we’re called to cultivate God’s perspective by looking at ourselves and the world around us through the eyes of our Creator. We are to embrace the truth that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). Our focus should not be on our outwardly appearance, but rather on our hearts—the foundation of our character, integrity, and compassion. We are loved and cherished by our God. When we release the lies that Satan tells us about our bodies and instead embrace our identity as loved, cherished, children of God, we can truly live the abundant life He desires for us.