Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
This post was written by author, speaker, podcaster, and cofounder of Girl Defined Ministries, Bethany Beal. I've consumed so much content from her ministry over the years, and I can't wait for you to read this post written by its cofounder! In this post, Bethany shares a personal story about body image and three truths for girls about their God-given identity.
Let’s rewind a few years, shall we? I know you can remember it. I was a sophomore in high school trying to figure out her college plans, wanting to grow in her writing craft, and internally panicking about what was ahead. I was very involved in church—participating in youth group, Awana, Sunday school, and music ministry. I was taking classes at a local homeschool group alongside other homeschoolers. And even though I wasn’t exactly sure how I would get there, I knew that I wanted to be a published author. It had really been my only dream since I was a little girl. But you were willing to do anything and everything to make sure that that dream didn’t become a reality.
Oh, how I don’t want you to settle. Because I’ve seen so many girls settle for guys who weren’t necessarily losers but who definitely weren’t winners. They deserved winners, and so do you. So if you think that you might be settling for a guy who’s simply not right for you, here are a few signs to know for sure.
I don’t judge you for any excuse that you’ve made in a desperate attempt to stay inside your comfort zone, but I want you to know that it’s really challenging to meet guys (and do other important things—life's not all about guys) if you stay inside your comfort zone. Don’t miss the opportunities in front of you simply because they might make you feel a bit uncomfy.
You were instantly attracted to him when you met him—and you were instantly impressed with him, too. He’s genuine and honest with you. He asks about everything—from your typical workday to your wildest dreams. He works really hard and has a steady job. He’s sweet, patient, and trustworthy. And his smile is pure magic. Unfortunately, though, he’s not a Christian.
You finally lost that weight. You finally ran that marathon. You finally gave up sugar for a month. You finally fit into your dream size. You finally mastered that workout routine. Yet something doesn’t feel right...you still don’t love your body. And you can't figure out why.
My friends from home and I sometimes stayed in touch, but other friendships fell by the wayside. There were no “friend breakups” or anything dramatic like that. But I definitely had to come to terms with the idea that God sometimes brings people into our lives for a season—and when they leave (or we leave), that’s an opportunity to form friendships with new people instead of a reason to throw a pity party for every single friendship that ends.
But one character whom I’ve liked since Season 1 of Lost is Jack Shephard. Honestly, he’s not particularly attractive. He often looks dirty, grimy, and sweaty (which is purposeful, of course, but is still a turn-off). Still, he’s my favorite character on the show because he’s unwaveringly strong.
There’s now a checkmark next to “write a book” and “become a published author,” but there’s not yet a checkmark next to “find success.” I realize that success is a subjective concept, so here’s my version of it: being a well-known, well-loved published author. And I haven't found that success yet.
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