Hey Friends ~
Welcome to “Please Repeat” Monday! I’m borrowing an idea from my pastor and repeating one of my most frequented previously shared posts. Enjoy!
You may recall that I hate swimsuit season! (I bared my soul about this topic here.)
In many areas of my life, I am experiencing God’s victory and “promise land living” -however, bathing suit season brings out my every fear and insecurity.
Until this week, I hadn’t been in a bathing suit since April 2008!
The other day I decided I would face my fears and take my kids to the pool. I was PRAYING like crazy about it all morning (Please, Lord, please don’t let me see anyone I know…please).
Of course, before I am out of the parking lot, I see a friend who shares that she thinks about me everytime she puts on her bathing suit (so she must read my blog and know my “issue”…how embarassing)
Then as I head into the pool area, a lady yells “Hey Bible Study lady!”. Great, I’m thinking…this is going to be a great day, God….
The kids and I stayed at the pool until nearly closing time. My kids had a blast ~ going down the slides, splashing and swiming, being kids. And would you know…I survived.
Nobody teased me. Called me a bad name. Made a funny comment to me. I made it!
Isn’t it crazy how our fears can become so irrational and huge – and almost paralyzing?!
Not until we step out into those areas of fear…out of our safety and comfort zone…can we see things more clearly. And Truthfully.
Like why in the world when I am 40+ years old do I still think someone is going to tease or reject me?
Where does this all come from??
Most importantly, how in the world do I move forward??
As I spent time praying about it later that evening, I rememembered something I learned in a Bible Study that was eye opening for me.
Kelly Minter, in her book No other gods shares, “Satan will tell us what’s true, but he never tells us the TRUTH“.
Remembering that simple statement was like an “AHA” light bulb moment for me!!
- Yes, it is true I was teased as a little girl for being “the chubby cousin”.
- Yes, it is true, I am not a size 6 (or an 8 anymore).
- Yes, it is true, I have given birth to 4 children.
- Yes, I’m not comfortable in a bathing suit. Yes, those things are true.
But the TRUTH is…..
- I am beautiful and accepted by God….just the way that I am!!
- God delights in me!!
- I am secure, significant, set apart in Christ!
- I am dearly loved by the Lord God Almighty!
- My worth and value is NOT defined but what I look like on the outside.
“Satan will tell us what’s true, but he never tells us the TRUTH“.
Satan tries to deceive us by telling us what may be true…but he never tells us the TRUTH!
True vs. TRUTH.
How about for you?? Are there areas of your life where the enemy is trying to deceive you? Is he filling your mind with things that may be true…but are not God’s TRUTH??
May the Lord reveal to you ANYTHING that is getting in the way of experiencing all of the FULLNESS and FREEDOM that He has for you!!!
And if you see me at the pool this summer ~ please feel free to say Hi!!
A good friend helped me reframe my pool experience from the other day. When I said, “Obviously God wasn’t listening to my prayers on the way to the pool. Everywhere I looked there were people I knew”.
My dear friend challenged me and said, “What if Dana in the parking lot, and Rachel from Bible study, and the other people you knew at the pool were actually reminders from God Himself that you were not alone?? That He was with you.”
Hmmm….sounds just like Him, doesn’t it?!
Let’s pray…Oh Lord, THANK YOU that Your Word says TRUTH will set us free. Please, Lord, set us free from any fear, lie, habit, attitude, addiction that is getting in the way of the full LIFE that You have for us. Eradicate any unhealthy roots. Plant seeds of Truth. For Your Purpose. For Your Glory Alone! Amen 🙂
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Have a victorious, Truth-filled day!
You are a beautiful woman!! I am so blessed to know you!
You know I just wrote something similar about shorts…honestly, I didn’t wear shorts for YEARS! I even endured hot southern summers in jeans. Totally crazy.
Good job, you, beautiful lady!
I have never felt uncomfortable in a bathing suit until very recently when my skin got saggier and my veins started showing and my stomach became more difficult to suck in. I never realized what I high premium I put on my appearance until age crept in. So, I’ll be referring back to your lists of “true vs truth” as I get into my bathing suit a few weeks from now.
Thank you.
(popped in from Jen’s blog)
I am a size that is considered thin in this harsh world and I still don’t enjoy being in a bathing suit…even a one piece b/c I keep thinking my butt is jiggly and I am certainly not toned enough! Praise to you and the Lord for helping realizing that true isn’t truth.
It is true that even at my size the media calls me “fat”-but it isn’t truth!! I so needed to hear this today. I loved what your friend said about knowing all those people at the pool-we are not alone. I join you in not loving bathing suits, but in loving yourself!!