One thing on Facebook that always stops my scroll is a photo of myself. A college friend will load a photo from the past, and I’ll be confronted with the younger me: smooth-skinned, smiling, and thinner. If an old friend comments on a current photo, I’ll scrutinize my appearance. How much older do I look? Did they notice how much I’ve changed?
I’m not the girl I used to be. In many ways I’ve changed for the better, but those changes don’t show up so well in the photos on social media. These moments remind me how easy it is—even as a Christian woman—to measure my worth by appearance instead of focusing on what truly matters: honoring God with your body, no matter your season of life.
Our Worth Is Not in Our Appearance
Our culture—and even our own minds—often measure worth by appearance. The pull to compare ourselves to a younger, thinner version of ourselves is strong, especially in the age of social media. But chasing that image-focused approval leaves us unsettled and distracted from what really matters.
Our worth is found in the fact that we our God’s image bearers. As Christians, our call is to take the message of the gospel to a waiting world. There is nothing in the job description about a snatched waist or toned arms.
How We Treat Our Bodies Matters
As Christians, we talk a lot about sin. We try to guard our thoughts and control our tongues. We install filters on our computers and are mindful of the movies we watch. If a friend confesses a struggle with lust or alcohol, we rush in to help.
But gluttony and sloth we don’t take so seriously. Some of that is understandable. Overeating doesn’t destroy lives in the way adultery and alcoholism do. But though there’s no immediate fallout if I overeat and don’t take care of my body, it doesn’t honor God, and the impact goes far deeper than how I look in photos. These struggles matter too, because they affect our hearts, habits, and worship.
Caring for Our Bodies Honors God
Our bodies are not projects to perfect, but gifts to steward. The way we eat, rest, and move isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual. As Paul reminds is in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we should honor God with them. Our bodies are the means by which we carry out the acts of service he has called us to. Our bodies allow us to enjoy the good gifts he gives us.
Losing weight and exercise are good things to do, but when my motivation is only to look good to others, I need to examine my heart before I worry about the size of my hips. Food is a gift from God that we are to enjoy and receive with thanksgiving. But when I reach for the chips out of boredom or exhaustion, I am seeking something from food that it wasn’t designed to provide.
It’s easy to get caught up in how we look—especially when social media highlights what we used to be. But as Christian women, God calls us to something deeper. He doesn’t define our worth by a number on the scale or how we appear in a photo. When the photos whisper lies, we need to turn to the truth of his word. The way we care for our bodies reflects what we believe about God. It’s about living in a way that brings him glory, right here and now, in the body we have today.
Want to go deeper? Learn how hormones fit into God’s design in this foundational post.
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bookmarked!!, I love your site!
Thanks! I’m glad you’ll be reading along!