Most teenage girls that I talk with are unhappy with who they are. They identify their happiness by how they look, how many friends they have, whether or not they have a boyfriend how well they are doing in school or if they qualify for the cheerleading squad. There are so many reasons to decide you do not like yourself if you are focused on exterior things or people to make you happy. True happiness comes from the inside. God wants you to enjoy your life and celebrate YOU! How do you celebrate YOU in a society that is so focused on material things? You keep your focus on the things of God. Don’t compare yourself to other girls, don’t allow what boys might say about you to affect the way you feel about yourself. Compare yourself to who God says you are! God says you are the apple of his eye, and you are loved! God’s word tells you that you are more than a conqueror and that you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you. God loves you and has a perfect plan for your life, start today by looking in the mirror and telling yourself how SPECIAL you are! Don’t forget Jesus died on the cross because he loved you so much. God wants you to be happy, and happiness is a decision that You make! Decide today to be happy about who you are! Celebrate yourself and others will begin to notice that there is something different about you! God bless you and have a happy day today.
This is your opportunity to share your thoughts/comments regarding this article. Please share how this article relates to your life, feel free to ask questions and let’s dialogue together around God’s principles.
Serving In God’s Love,
Lucy Ann
Great article Lucy Ann.
The Prayer For Youth Staff
I have struggled alot with the way I look. I have acne and I am a junior in highschool. I am learning to accept who I am and realize that God love s me the way I am.
I struggle not with just outside appearances but also the whole dating thing. Where I live its not exactly just ok to be friends with guys and not dating them. Basicaly its you dont talk or you are dating! So many pressures to date many of my guy friends that it is hard to breathe. I am trying to find god through it all but it has become a daily battle.
God has made us all in his imagine and likeness. He has made us all unique, a special design by the master’s hand. It is important that we realize that we are loved by God just the way we are. We do not have to look a certain way, act a certain way, or belong to a special group to be accepted by God. Know that you are loved and do not fall to the lies of the enemy that says otherwise. Our physical appearances will constantly be changing, but the real YOU is the person inside. God looks upon the heart and not the outward appearances.
God has is near! God’s word says to be still and know that I am God. No matter where we live, what our culture may dictate, God is still God and he is in control. Be true to God’s word for his principles will set you free from the pressures of this world.Keep the faith in Jesus he willl guide you and direct your paths. The pressure to date is real and the way to avoid that pressure is to know who you are in Christ, and that you are special and loved because of who you are, not who you date! God’s word is clear that we are not to be yoked with unbelievers, and we are to follow after righteousness, faith, love and peace. Anyone who is pressuring you to date is not walking in God’s love. Resist the enemy and he will flee. God is always with you his word promises never to leave you or forsake you.
I needed that today. Thanks for the little pick-me-up. I forget sometimes about the important things, like my faith. Highschool is so centered around material things i just get caught up in the mess sometimes. I always have God to reasure me that im perfect the way i am. It’s so tiring to worry about all that junk, id rather just be happy and content with who God knows i am.
I was reading that and I realized that a lot of things I do worry about
but I never looked at it that way…
Girls,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the aritcle I am enjoying reading your comments. Remember God does not want us to worry, he is the one that is in control of things, and our job is to listen and obey. The other things are just distractions preventing us from hearing the voice of God. God made you all special, so I am reminding you of that now, and challange you to keep reminding yourself how special you are. God bless.
yes! finally someone recognises the pain i am going through! my whole entire life my father has told me how fat and ugly i am. he has told me that i need to lose weight and when i was only 10 years old, he made me run on a treadmill. This has taken a control of my life, and it is a vicios cycle becuause the more he calls me fat the more i eat and now i am an obese teenager. i am seriously depressed and have complentated suicide many times. If it wasnt for the love and power of God i really might have done it :[
Sarah,
I am so glad you shared! Yes God does love you and his power is alive and working in your life. Remember you are precious and loved by God. You are worthy because of who you are, not what size you are! Outside appearances will always change, but God’s love for you never will. God has a wonderful plan for your life. I pray peace over you and I pray that you sense God’s love and power working in your life. You are valuable just the way you are, you could never change God’s love for you. Take your mind off your weight and put your thoughts on how loved you are by God, and watch the difference it makes in your life. Depression has no hold on you unless you allow it too. Focus on what God says about you not what others say about you. God bless, keep close to God.
people crave friends at school more than anything. u need people to be there for u. they judge u based on wat u look like and wat u do. and if u just resist every influence at school, every discourse. then of course ur unique and god still loves u. i get that. but when u trip down the stairs whos physically going to be there to pick u up? not god. wen ur crying in the toilet whos going to realise ur gone and come grab u and drag u back to class? not god. because people need embodiment. and sometimes u have to wait a really long time to find that. and even if people find it in small ways, like a shy kid helps u out one day, its not satisfying as ‘fitting in’ is. because fitting in at school is a completion feeling like uve just finished ur assignment.
when ur depressed about school its because u missing that completion feeling and that then drags out to home and school work. u just dont get anything done.
i just had to share my opinion
xxxKatherine
Katherine,
Thanks for sharing! “fitting In” is a real thing, this I agree. However the “truth” of God’s word says that you already “fit In” to his family. It is a real feeling when we feel we are alone at school, at home or at work, again, the truth is God will never leave you or forsake you; this means he is with you everywhere! I challenge you to think differently today. At those times when there appears to be no one there to help pick you up; ask God to make himself real to you at that very moment. It is at those times when you “experience” God’s love for yourself. It is at those times when there is no one around that you no longer feel “lonely” because you can sense God’s presence with you. It is when we keep looking towards the acceptance of others to make us feel good about ourselves, that we will always come up short! So look to what God says about you, and you will realize no matter where you are or who you are with, you WILL FIT IN! By the way, at school when you don’t think you fit in… is that the “group” that you truly would like to be associated with, or those you think will make you feel better about yourself if you belonged with them? Personnally, if I have to act a certain way or look a certain way to “fit in”, I find those are poeple I do not enjoy to be around anyway! Thanks again for sharing. I am praying for you. God Bless.
i am really struggling on finding who i am. all my friends feel so confident with who they are. and its weird, because at school im all bubbly and hyper and happy but the moment i step through the door of my house i am different. i am quiet and dont say anything because the words that come out of my mouth seem pointless. a lot of times i start to say something but one of my friends just interrupts. not caring what i have to say. and everyone sees what you look like on the outside, not the inside. it is not like i had a say in my looks. i have frizzy curly hair, tall and very skinny with acne. i know God created me to be different. and im trying to accept who i am, who God made me to be. just so hard.
Sarah
Thanks for sharing. You are important and valuable, do not judge yourself by the way others may treat you. Remember God says that you are special! Accepting yourself at times is very hard, especially if you consider what others may be saying or not saying about you. What you have to say is important, so be sure to voice your opinion, do not be concerned with what others might think. When others interrupt you; they are just being rude, it has nothing to do with you, so do not interpret it that way.Trust in God’s word,not the words of others and you will start to see yourself as special. Keep the faith. I am praying for you.
This message was such a blessing to me. So many years I have let other dictate my life and its caused me to change the way i think, act, walk, talk, dress and so much more. I spent my life always trying to please others and in the end its only made me unhappy. All of this..for what? These people still were not satisfied with me and what i was doing for them. I began to question my worth and i felt like i was never good enough for anyone and wondered why i was put here. I thank God that he has brought me through these storms and they have only made me a stronger, wiser person. God loves me for me and nothing else should matter. I am blessed and highly favored. Though time to time, the devil tries to bring these negative thoughts back to mind but this passage was great and very motivational.
Being in high school put a lot of pressure on teen girls an it has really affected me. In Middle school i was perfectly fine with the way i looked. But last year was my freshman year and i started to change….before this i made good grades i was really close to my family….i changed the way i looked at myself…i started to consider my self fat and that added stress to my life and i started to get really bad acne…i would get very self-conscious and i wasn’t believing in myself anymore….life was just a bad thing it was last on my list i thought about suicide…but then my mom took me to the call in Ohio and it really opened my eyes to how much god really loves me and how much he has planned for me in my life and how he thinks i’m beautiful in many ways because he made me the way he wanted me to look/be….This year is my sophmore year=) life is much better this year i’m closer to my family and i’m four honors classes….it is amazing how such a tiny thing can take such a big tole on your life…i’m still having confidence issues but it is not as bad as it was=D..thank you so much for reading=)
Girls,
Be encouraged, that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, by the creator of the universe! WOW… the God that made the whole world, made you! Self confidence starts by excepting God’s love into your life. I pray that you will have a deeper understanding of God’s love for you, and that you will learn to live in the peace God offers you through your relationship with Jesus. Teenage years are tough, full of changes, and pressures and choices. Keep your eyes fixed on what is eternal, keep your mind fixed on how precious you are, just as you are today. We all are a work in progress, and God is not finished doing the great work he wants to do in your life. Make a decision to be happy and watch what God does in your life. Thanks for taking the time to share. You all are special to
God and to me. Blessings.
I wish I could of seen this last year.I went through a hard time last year during basket-ball season.All the girls yelled at me,made fun of me and lots more all because I wasn’t good enough for the team. It was only my first year playing,and I still struggle through the practices that I’ve had this year,I realize though as long as I do my best it doesn’t really matter if I make the team or not,I should be proud of myself for giving it my best shot.Thanks for the encouraging words.God bless you.
HollyHip…. thanks for sharing…. you are right about doing your best. If playing basketball makes you happy, go do the best you can, if you make the team great, have fun playing, if you do not, that is not a reflection on who you are…. if you are on the team or not; keep playing, keep practicing! I know try outs for a sport team can be VERY challanging…but life is full of challanges, and the important thing is how we handle those opportunities, not necessarily if we get the outcome we were looking for. Allow God to strengthen you through this process, keep smiling, stay happy and ALWAYS be the best you can be in whatever you are doing! God bless, have fun, be yourself, and know how special you are!!
i having alot of trouble with my appearance. how i look really affects me. i have a skin diease called atopic eczema or eczema. i have it bad and i feel that no one understands. last year my 8th grade year i was made fun of all the time because of how i looked. they called me ugly and made fun of my skin. it hurt so much. i get sometimes jealous of everyone else (mostly girls) because there skin is so nice and perfect and i always wish mine’s could be like that. i’ve had eczema for 4 years and i feel its never going to go away. i would cry sometimes wondering why this is happening to me. then i think about God. and i think about how God does not care how i look. God does not judge me like others may do. i try to remind my self that God does love me. someone please pray for me so i can remember this everyday.
What a great article I teach a teen girls Bible Study and they are so going through this thanks for the article that I will be sharing with them. I pray for these girls and so many others thatneed to know how special they are to God and that is so hard to get across in thisday and age of outward appearance
I never knew that so much girls are affected on how they looked and how it can be destructive in their lives. Being brought in a no-nonsense family had taught me this all my lives. Even though people cringe on the sight of you, and though they shouted comments of how you looked, or how well you do in some stuff, it doesn’t matter because Jesus love us enough just the way we are, and he doesn’t care weather our face looked like it’s been trampled by a buldozer or that we have 0 talents. Just remember this fact everyday and you’ll get stronger with every time you say it. I will pray for you all, and wished you all the best. You’re special! Even in your own little weird way and God cherish that.
And thank you LucyAnn, for creating a place for people just to pour their hearts out. And though it’s only over the net, we’re gratefull for your time and effort. GBU
Thanks for sharing… being happy with yourself is important because God made everyone unique, and that is what makes you special. Always remember that God is interested in every aspect of your life. Continue to seek God and he will reveal his perfect plan for your lives. Make up your mind today to “be happy” with who you are as you are on your way to be all that God created you to be. I am praying for you all and I am thankful for everyone who takes the time to share with us….. blessings
Well really I’ve never seen it that way. I’ve never thought about the way I look I just want to go on with life. I know I’m a beautiful person from inside as I’m outside because God made me and he loves me and thats all that matters no matter how other poeple see me. I know I can be confident and if I fall I’l keep my head up knowing the God will send someone to help, or maybe not, He might help me Himself, and to me that has, is, and, will be a great blessing for me.
I really wish all the girls who feel alone in this world could just speak to me for just a moment at least. I was a girl who suffered from major hurt because of my self esteem. Most of the time i would hide behind my goofiness and smiles. But inside i was hurt and sad constantly, feeling unloved and alone, feeling like nobody wanted me and knowing that as soon as i left highschool people would leave me right away bacause i wasnt important enough. But then i went to a conference for women with my church. (depite all of this i was still very involved in church and refused to give up)
At the retreat i felt laid on my heart to share with another girl about how god wanted us to feel.
It turned out she was suffering for low self esteem also. And as God spoke through me to this girl it was as if he was speaking to me!!
I AM A VICTORIOUS OVERCOMER NOW :]
This article encourage me to be happy of who I am. It opened my eyes to see how God sees me. It made me realize how God loves me and care for me.
this website makes my life so much ,more worth living at the moment.
I’m debating currently on whether or not to try out for mascot.
I made excuses for why not to…but now I see I just didn’t want to because I was scared.
I’m scared of people laughing at me.
Making fun of me for trying out for mascot instead of being a cheerleader like normal girls…I read this and found my answer.
I don’t have to be afraid.
I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.
Thank you,
GOD BLESS YOU ALL (:
Girls I am blessed to hear you all sharing, your struggles as well as your victories! Continue to keep your eyes on Jesus, know how very special you all are to me and especially to God! Know that by sharing you are helping each other. Thanks!!!
I know that in my personal life, while everyone was going through the whole “Who am I” stage of junior high i had already known who i was. I am a Daughter of The King of Kings! I grew up knowing this but not truly believing it with my whole heart. For so long i felt i wasn’t worthy, but what God has shared with me is that because of the blood of His son that was shed on the cross, I am made pure and holy in the eye’s of my creator. I want to encourage all of you to find your self in the Lord. Let Him alone give you your identity, your purpose. Loose your selves in Him! Once you learn how to firstly love the Lord Your God and secondly to love the beautiful young women of God you are becoming, then and only then will you be able to love the way in which God has instructed us. To love one another as your self. Be Blessed!!! Your Sister in Christ, (John 15:16-17)
“Even thought the skies are cloudy the sun still shines!”
I like what Katherine said…it’s very real.
I am happy I read this today. A few weeks ago there was a boy who really said very hurtful things to me and I have been crying ever since. Reading this made me realize that I shouldn’t allow anyone to make me cry or tell me who I am. I have always had a low self-esteem but I am a loud person and I hide it behind that. Then at times it just feels like i am alone because people don’t understand me. I am very sensitive and anything that anyone says cuts through me and makes me feel worse about myself. I hope one day I will be able find a way out of this.
this article is great! It really helped me, I have been cutting myself and been frustrated for a long time!
Aubrey,
A note to say God loves you and he accepts you! I am praying for you. I am praying that you realize that cutting is not an answer to you frustration…. it is a lie from the enemy to keep you from the freedom that Jesus came to give you. Keep you eyes on Jesus, you are worthy and loved! Keep reading the articles, stay plugged into things that will keep you encouraged in the Lord. Blessings!
I struggle with how I look, if my clothes or shoes are nice enough, and if I say the right things. But God loves us anyways and when you find the right friends, you will see that they love you even when you have on a t-shirt and crazy hair. Because in the end people want someone they can have fun with, not someone who is perfect! Whenever I feel unhappy with myself I go back to those moments when I was most happy and capture the feeling of the place and people I was with and I know that God loves me and wants me to be happy, so he will put another situation out there for me to be happy. And when those good days come, we must be sure to rejoice to the Lord for his love is deeper than any happy moment we will ever experience!!
Lately I’ve been struggling with believing that God can even be real. I’ve always grown up believing that he is real and one part of me believes he really is, but the other part of me doesn’t always believe what I’ve been taught and I can’t seem to convince myself that God really is up there in heaven. I also find it hard to talk about with my family and friends. I don’t want them to think less of me, or anything. Whenever I’m sure that God really is here protecting me, I second guess myself, especially in times when I’m struggling and I can’t feel God.
I feel worn out and I’m tired of the battle. I want to be able to just fully believe in God with out doubts constantly popping into my head. I just want them to disappear.
hey i really love these topic it really help me in certains areas of live u know sometimes i dont want to do things but because i want to fit a group i would do! and im always telling my self that if i dont do it i would have no friends but i thank god that i have read this!i asking if u could plz pray for me cause im still going this and i know with your prayers i could do it plz pray thanks alot
this article really opened my eyes to other problems around me and not just my own. It’s such a relief to know I’m ot the only one who sometimes feels selfconcious about myself or how I look or the way I act. I’ve never been the cheerleading type so people thought I was weird but this article showed me I was just unique.
I have struggled with a eating disorder for about a year now. whenever i feel a breakthrough, I say finally I am over this, but it comes back. I am dating and I feel like I am never happy with him, when I am angry or sad becasue I have other things on my mind, just trying to find time for god, and school. I feel like I have lost my friends and make my family struggle becasue of me. I want everything to be a constant speed in my life.
life is beautiful…
I stuggle everyday with the way I look. I have this hatred when I look at myself in the mirror. I cannot stand myself. Even at school I feel pretty down. All that is looked at is beauty. I hate so much being pushed around by everyone because they think they are so much better than I am. I just want to lock myself up in my room and cry until sleep comes – and often lately it has been that way. Thanks for the article. I need to keep reminding myself that God is truely the only opinion that matters. (sometimes I feel like I have failed God too…) Any Prayers are always appreciated. Thank you for the articles. I am reading through them all I really do think they help
When i look in the mirror, i see something different than what other people see. But when someone makes a negative comment on how i look i either become self-conscious or i ignore what they said. It just depends on who says it. I’ve never hated myself or anything like that but i start to question if im the only person who can see the real me why can’t anyone else? I get tired of hearing people talk bad about other people like if they’re pretty or cute enough, if they are skinny enough or do they talk and do things that people want them to do. So much drama in my school is started because of those things. I always hear whispers or crude comments walking down the hallway from people gossiping. In fact one of my guys friends was going to hug me the other day and his friend said,” you mean the 300 pound girl?” referring to me. I number 1 do not weigh anywhere near 300 pounds and 2 i don’t feel like dealing with that. It kind of disappointed me when my guy friend didn’t stick up for me but i guess that shows how guys are around their friends. Sorry for writing so much i just needed to vent. But i would greatly appreciate prayers and maybe some advice. Thank you so much for the article too, i believe all girls should read that!
Girls, thanks for sharing, it is important that we discuss these issues and it is good for us all to hear your comments. For those who are still struggling, know that God loves you and you always ‘fit in’ with God. We are all made in God’s image and we have uniques qualities and gifts and talents. We were not made to ‘fit in’ but rather stand out as one of God’s children. We are not of this world but yet we are in this world. Do not try to fit in with those who do not know God, you know God, and that makes you different (in a good way)!
As far as others making bad, silly, or not so nice, comments about you… remember we can not control other peoples behaviors, but we can control how we react to their comments. Do not allow their comments to have an effect on you, keep reminding yourself you are the child of the most hight king! You are special, even if others do not recognize that. Pray for those who hurt you and watch God do great things in your life. A side note…hurting people – hurt people. It often is not about you, but about something the other person is struggling with, that makes them lash out and hurt others.
Hating yourself does not make things better, accepting yourself is a necessary thing. Accept yourself now, start a gratitude list of all the things you have to be thankful for. Soon you will find that your self hatred is a selfish thing…God has a great plan for you, if the enemy can keep you looking at all you do not like about your self he can render you uneffective for God’s kingdom. Look at yourself and know God loves you, and you are special.
Like everyone says high school is a big thing.What hurts me the most.I see everyone dating,walking with guys,talking.I look at myself thinking “am i really that ugly?” I mean of course plenty of guys asked me but not my type at all.But when it actually comes to a cute guy,i can’t act myself around them.Because of my shyness i was never able to talk to a guy,since i was so scared of having a boy friend.Not being allowed to date my parents.But it doesn’t hurt to get one? How do i over come my shyness? My friends say it s a good thing not having trouble with a guy.But to me its though things when you have trouble GETTING a guy.
May,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, what you are feeling is common among teenage girls. I am going to encourage you to take the focus off of the ‘guys’ and put the focus back on yourself. Use this time to become comfortable with yourself. I have found that some girls hide behind their shyness as a way of protecting themselves from being hurt by others. Ask the Lord to reveal to you if this is true for you. Some people are very outgoing, others are not, remember God has made us all differently. You are unique with your own special gifts and talents. Remember our outward appearance is just a part of who we are. Having a guy does not make you special, being the best person you can be makes you speical. When you feel comfortable with or without a guy in your life is when you know you are ready to be in a relationship. A relationship will never “complete” you…it is meant to ‘compliment’ you. Keep your eyes on Jesus and walk closey with him. God has great plans for your life. God loves you and we love you.
Befor i knew god i used to struggle with my apprence and accepting being me… i used to wonder why me. but then i met some really amazing people now i go to church and everything i even converted my religion from baptist to pentecostal
-Whitley
i am struggling to be happy… i never really felt happy… i dont like how i am turning out… i remind myself to put my hope in God but i aways put it in something else… i am struggling with realationships… i just dont see me becoming happy being me..
I totally agree with this article, i feel at a time in my life i struggled with accepting myself for who i was. I feel that i still am working on it day by day. But this is a huge struggle for many girls because the world has put out certain images of how we are to look or act. I’m just now realizing that I am to love myself the way that God has created me to be.