• body image,  confidence,  inspiration

    When Self-Love is Not Enough

    Almost every time I browse through Instagram, I see a cute post from an influencer with some catchy self-love motto. Sound familiar? Even I’ve posted them before, so it’s totally relatable. I’ve actually written a prior post on self-love and how true love must be rooted in Christ for us to gain confidence in who we are. But what if some of these self-love affirmations and teachings actually aren’t Biblical? While they may sound cute and can encourage us at times when we have low confidence, they are often rooted in pride. I’m not saying that all girls on social media or blog sites dedicated to self-love are prideful or…

  • What Godly Confidence Really Looks Like
    confidence,  faith

    What Godly Confidence Really Looks Like

    Nothing can squelch self-confidence like having health issues. Having physical limitations and not being like everyone else is hard. And it’s something I’ve struggled with for the last six years. Although God has done tremendous healing in me and blessed me with excellent healthcare, there are still moments of struggle. One thing I choose not to do is drive. I have POTS and vertigo, which make driving uncomfortable. I have some visual sensory issues and great anxiety with driving, and this has affected my confidence in significant ways. Not only is not being able to drive inconvenient, but it’s also a little embarrassing when you’re almost 24 years old and…

  • You May Not be Worthy, but You Are Valued
    confidence,  the Gospel

    You May Not Be Worthy, but You Are Valued

    I scroll through Instagram, glancing at the images when I see the increasingly popular hashtag attached to inspirational Christian posts. #worthy The concept of worthiness is popular in makeup commercials and diet ads. And that makes sense, of course. Self-care and beauty products tell us we’re worth it because a hardworking woman deserves such things. However, this is a worldly standard, not a Biblical one. When it comes to salvation, we must face a harsh truth. We are not worthy–not even close. But we are valued. Worthy of Nothing What’s the difference between having worth and being valued? Well, for the spiritual purpose of this post, worthiness is counted as…

  • the truth about shame
    Jesus,  shame

    The Truth About Shame

    I have a confession to make. I am twenty-three years old, and am just learning how to drive. It’s a huge victory in my battle with a chronic illness that prevented me from driving. But it’s also a struggle. Learning to drive isn’t easy–at least not for me (and not for the poor souls who help me practice). And to be honest, it makes me anxious. Though I am getting better with every lesson, I still feel a terrible, self-defeating feeling that shrouds me in darkness. I’m talking about shame. The Poison of Shame Merriam-Webster defines shame as “a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety.” This feeling,…

  • How to Find Your Self Worth
    confidence,  faith,  recovery

    How to Find Your Self Worth

    This is going to sound totally cliché, but I had a real “God moment” at Chick Fil A a couple of weeks ago. While I waited for my food, I noticed an older woman sitting in a wheel chair. My heart just melted. For some reason she reminded me of my grandma, who passed away last year. The woman and I introduced ourselves and discussed flowers. As I was leaving the restaurant, she said something that caught me off guard: It’s nice to know you.  How many people do we meet everyday, yet we don’t even really know or see their worth?  At that moment, when I looked into the…