The girls from St. Mathew’s high school youth group put on their annual Girls Night In Retreat. The director, a high school junior, wrote a talk about their theme, His strength is hers. I would like to thank Danielle for allowing me to share her story.

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
(2 Timothy 1:7)

Each of you is priceless. If this is true then why are our thoughts often times filled with negativity. Thinking about how we aren’t enough or less beautiful than others. Take a moment to think about whom you associate the word ‘beautiful’ with and why do you think so. Now think about how this affects the way you see yourself. Do you still think you’re beautiful?

When you think about it, how can you know the true meaning of beauty, confidence, independence etc. if you don’t have self worth? Self worth is the sense of your own value or worth as a person. This means not worrying what other people think of you or letting their opinions change yours. It means that real beauty comes within and isn’t something that can be determined by your looks. It means depending on yourself and your own actions to define who you are and what you believe. And it means having confidence in God, that he made you to be unique and different so that you have a special part in the world.

How often do you compare yourself to others or unrealistic standards and expectations, making you feel unwanted. It makes it harder to remember how important and valuable you are. Think about the fact that you can be whoever you want to be. You can be shy and quiet, or opinionated, confident, loud, and happy. But at the end of the day be one hundred percent sure that it’s who you want to be, and not what others expect you to be. Living in your truth, now that is beautiful.

I will be the first to admit, that wanting to be everything can get the best of me. I want to be happy, funny, confident, and beautiful. I want to be a great friend that can be depended on at all times, a good student, a loving sister and at the same time please my parents, teachers, friends, and family. In some way, we all make the mistake of wanting to be everything, but don’t realize that we already are. We are because God made us to be everything that He wanted us to be, and it is our own decision to meet our full potential.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
(Romans 12:2)

I know you’ve probably heard many times that you’re made in the image and likeness of God, and you’re probably tired of hearing it, but I don’t think we truly understand what it means. If we did then good self worth and self love would come a lot easier. We would treat others and ourselves out of love and worry less about earthly or material things that better our image.

The next time you feel less than you are and insecure, look to the people around you because they will be the people to build you back up. Let their presence fill you with God’s love and fulfillment. I leave you with the thought that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. That you are more than the time you disappointed your parents, more than the bad grade you got in chemistry, more than the amount of likes you get on Instagram, more than the boy that broke your heart, and more than the mistakes you’ve made.