By: Ann Swindell
As swimsuit season creeps up, it’s easy to feel anxiety creep up on us, as well. We might start to worry about how our body has changed in the past year, or whether we will “measure up” to the (impossible) standards that bombard us every day through social media, news, and television. We may start thinking that we need to work harder on getting our body into shape in order to feel confident and peaceful this summer.
Here’s some good news for our weary hearts: the Lord has peace for you this summer. No matter what size you wear or don’t wear—and no matter what your body looks like—God wants you to be able to walk in His peace when it comes to your body.
Here are 3 ways to make peace with your body this summer:
Remember who created you.
You were not made my happenstance, and you were not formed without a plan. No, the Lord Himself crafted every inch of your body: “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). Not only that, but the Lord is the One who continues to sustain your body and hold even the cells of your very being together: “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17)!
As we remember that the Lord is our Creator, we can rejoice in the truth that He delights in His craftsmanship—He delights in you! This can offer your soul great peace, for everything about you was intentionally chosen: the size of your hips and the length of your legs, the color of your eyes and the curve of your ears—every part of you was lovingly crafted by the Maker of Heaven and Earth, with a purpose and a plan (Psalm 139:13-14)! Even if you struggle with what you see in the mirror, your soul can choose to rest in—be at peace in—God’s purposeful and loving creation of your body and soul. He loves what He has made; He loves you! The very breath in your lungs comes from Him. Rest in His love and sustaining grace in your life.
Praise God that He only ever works through imperfect bodies.
There is not a human on earth today who has a perfect body; even the images we see online or on TV have been carefully crafted, photoshopped, and manipulated. They aren’t real! And, aside from what we see, we also never know what pains and struggles others are dealing with beneath the surface. Sickness, disease, and weakness are marks of being human. We are all frail in one way or another.
But what we think are “imperfections” are, in fact, gateways through which the Lord’s power and grace shine through! Let this truth give your heart great peace! For as we see in the lives of many Biblical men and women, the Lord consistently did His most beautiful work through people whose bodies had serious struggles. Sarah and Hannah were barren. Jacob was given a limp that he carried for the rest of his life. Moses had a serious speech impediment, and the Apostle Paul had an unnamed physical issue that caused him great torment. But in all of these men and women, God’s power was mightily displayed in their lives. Why? As the Lord told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Rather than being dismayed by our weaknesses, Christ draws Himself close to us in our struggles and trials. He meets us in those places of powerlessness and frailty, and shows Himself to be our strength and our portion.
Delight in the gifts of summertime!
The warmth of the sun on your skin; the softness of a summer breeze across your face; the taste of fresh watermelon or berries straight from the bush; the beauty seen from a hiking summit; the lulling sounds of the waves on a beach—these are all good gifts from a Heavenly Father who loves you! Yes, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). He is the giver of every gift we receive, and all of these beautiful summer moments (plus too many more to count) can only be experienced one way—in and through our bodies. We can walk in Christ’s peace by shifting our attention away from any worries about our bodies and toward the One who provides us with the bountiful summertime experiences that only He can give. When we focus on delighting in the Lord rather than worrying about ourselves, we will experience His peace to a greater degree.
As we head into this summer, let your heart be at peace in Christ. Take your anxieties and fears about your body to Him, and remember that He created you just the way He did for a beautiful purpose! Praise Him that He works through our imperfect bodies, and then go and delight in the good gifts of summertime.
Order Ann’s new book, The Path to Peace, anywhere books are sold!
Ann Swindell is the author of the new book The Path to Peace: Experiencing God’s Comfort When You’re Overwhelmed. She writes for The Gospel Coalition, Risen Motherhood, Deeply Rooted, and other ministries. Ann is the owner of Writing with Grace and holds an MFA in creative nonfiction writing. She lives in West Michigan with her pastor husband and two kids, and you can connect with her online at AnnSwindell.com.
