I spent part of yesterday in an activity I don’t particularly enjoy. In fact, it’s almost torture for me.

It’s been a few years since I’ve done it, namely because I dislike it so much.

But, I couldn’t put it off any longer. I had to force myself into this unpleasant undertaking… the daunting task of finding a swimsuit.

Ugh.

From those of us of the female gender, did I hear a communal groan? I don’t believe I’m the only one who dreads this task.

Friend, do you dislike finding a swimsuit as much as I do?

The older I get, the more I find it to be discouraging and somewhat defeating. Not only has my skin not seen the light of day over the Midwestern winter months, but for some reason beyond my knowledge, swimsuit sizing does a number on my body confidence.

Take for example, I wear a size medium in a popular brand of athletic wear… except, I guess, in their swimsuits. I grabbed my normal size in this brand off the rack, but could barely get it on. Fun times. Good thing I also brought into the dressing room the next larger size. After tugging and squeezing and finally getting it to cover what needed to be covered, I nearly laughed out loud at how ridiculous I looked.

It went back on the rack. The struggle is real, my friend!

After trying on several different suits in multiple stores, I left with all of them hanging on the rack.

I felt bigger and heavier and lower than I had felt in a long, long time.

To make matters worse, I came home and continued the degrading search online. I should have known better. Every single model looked great in the swimsuit she was modeling. So different from the way I looked in any of those I tried on earlier in the day.

Yes, the struggle in finding a swimsuit is very real.

It’s a good thing I believe and have accepted the truth that my worth is not determined by my clothing size or how I look in a swimsuit. Even though the world might say it is, and even on those days I may feel like it is, it is not.

My worth is determined by my Creator.

God considers me worthy, and so, I am.

If I may remind you, friend, He considers you worthy, too. And so, you are.

You and I can take comfort in who we are as children of God. He created each of us, and because He did, we share in His worthiness. God considers everything He created special and good and yes, worthy.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Psalm 139:13-15

Yet, what about those days when we feel the opposite… when we feel worthless?

Like on a day of swimsuit searching? Or when we mess up for the 234th time? Or when someone–even if it’s ourselves–tells us we aren’t worthy? When we experience days like this, we don’t have to believe our feelings. We don’t have to follow how we feel. What if we believed God, instead?

[Tweet “When we feel worthless we don’t have to believe our feelings.”]

I would venture to guess God probably isn’t concerned about how we look in a swimsuit, but more about our relationship with Him.

God may not care what size we are, but more about how we live our lives and how we care for what He’s given us.

The world cares more about what’s seen, as God tends to draw attention to what’s unseen.

Yes, there might be a real struggle with finding a swimsuit this season. But this struggle doesn’t need to affect our worth. Let’s not let it, friend.

[Tweet “Let’s not let the struggle of finding a swimsuit this season affect our worth.”]

Let’s live worthy… even in a swimsuit this season.

Blessings!

Julie

Linking this post with friends Anita, Lori, and Holly.