By Kristine Taton
Many women find it hard to be confident, to feel good about themselves. We tend to compare ourselves with what we see online—the women who seemingly have perfect bodies, designer clothes, the perfect life. And so we sulk, we forget the blessings we already have, and complain to God why we don’t have the seemingly “perfect” life that other women have.
It may be embarrassing, but I also often feel insecure. When I see the happy social media posts of others, I also think, “Why is her body better?” “How come she can afford that and I can’t?” “Her family looks so perfect.” Every time I ask these things in my head, I also ask God, “Why can’t You make me like them? Why don’t You also give me the same blessings, Lord?”
But one prayer time, something hit me. I was reminded of that moment when Jesus was in between two thieves. Jesus was at His worst, bleeding and dying. He is about to save mankind from sin! There was the Lord and Savior, hanging on the cross when someone asked Him, “Are You not the Messiah? Save Yourself and us.” Wait. This sounds familiar. Don’t I sound just like this thief?
Here I am, already aware of Jesus’ love for me but I still question Him.
Thankfully, there is another thief, the repentant one. “The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, ‘Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal’” (Luke 23:40-43).
Jesus does nothing but love us. Sadly, many times we don’t acknowledge it. When we complain to God, remember what the repentant thief said: “Have you no fear of God? The sentence we received corresponds to our crime. This man has done nothing wrong.”
Without Jesus, we are nothing. Ladies, this Lenten season, let us remember this grace: God’s sacrifice for us is enough. Being His daughter is enough.
*This article taken from Feast Magazine March 2021 issue*
Featured image is from Unsplashed.com.