I'm not sure what this is-a post, rant, whatever. But it is what it is. An embarrassing topic but I feel lead to post about it.
I have been struggling with moderately severe acne since I was 13 years old. Basically I hit puberty and my perfect, pretty, very fair childhood skin is replaced by horrible, agitated, red in some areas, pimple covered troll like skin. Yes, I felt like a troll. Still do sometimes, as my acne isn't completely gone yet.
It's really hard being a young girl, especially in the USA. You see models, actresses, posters in clothing stores, etc. of these perfect, photo shopped, beautiful women. And you're the pimply troll walking through the store (I'm not saying YOU, I'm saying that's what I felt like). So there are reminders everywhere, telling you what you should like, wanting to fit you in that perfect girl frame, different is not acceptable. There is make up to cover up all your flaws and differences, and acne products that promise to get rid of your problem and never do, and doctors and dermatologists that you dump hundreds of dollars on who only give you medications that make you throw up your lunch (my own, lovely, personal car sick experience). Then you read about acne, and find that it is very uncommon for girls to have severe acne (as if that makes you feel any better) and all your friends have lovely clear skin.
Acne has GOT to be something straight from hell. It is one of the leading causes of depression and low self-esteem in teens. And it seems impossible to completely get rid of it. You feel like you are being punished for growing up. Sometimes, I get mad at God. On top of having acne, I also have a round face, which more often than not makes me feel fat, and I'm not I'm actually really thin, well athletic is the word as I have a lot of muscle (courtesy of my horses). Then I also have a slightly lazy eye which isn't really 'lazy' anymore but occasionally I'll see it off to the side in the mirror, or even worse pictures. And yes, I avoid pictures at all costs.
I'm sure there is more than one of you that can relate to this. Always feeling like the ugly duckling, next to your pretty older sister and your best friend who came to visit. Thinking "it doesn't matter what I do, it won't go away! I'm cursed!". Many girls resort to make up to feel better about themselves, and there's nothing really wrong with that I suppose. I've just never been into makeup, as it does make the problem worse, and to me that's like putting on a mask to fit in with everybody else. For me, it's like one side of me wants to fit in, while the other wants to stay true to who I am. I usually stay true to myself. I don't want to fall into the 'perfect girl trap' that society seems to force on us. For this reason, I tend to get a lot of attacks on my self esteem. I've never dated anyone, and my 89 year old great aunt just told me "it's time to get a bo". -_- thanks auntie.
I have more knowledge about treating acne than anyone would even want to know. I'm not going to write about that here, but you are free to pm me about it; though I will say that going the natural route, which I like to call God's Way, almost always is more effective. What I want to write about here is the truths that GOD says about us, not the world! When you feel the enemy's lies weighing you down, turn to scripture. God says we are beautifully made! Each of us are unique and dear to him. Each of us are beautiful (or handsome) in our own way! Do you know what God wants to say to you right now? He says "look and see what I have done. How beautiful you are, my creation!! Lovely, wonderful, beautiful, smart, highly cherished you are! You my daughter, and you my son, the royalty of the kingdom, are most highly treasured in my eyes. There could never be another you, you are beautiful and wonderful and unique! No other could match your beauty. I LOVE YOU FOR YOU, dear one!" ~Adonai
Let us look at scripture, and see how God repeats this message over, and over, and over: I love YOU. You are BEAUTIFUL!
[h=3]Psalm 139:13-16[/h] For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
[h=3]Jeremiah 1:4-5[/h] Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
[h=3]Genesis 1:27[/h] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
[h=3]1 John 3:1-2[/h] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
[h=3]Isaiah 64:8[/h] But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
[h=3]Job 31:15[/h] Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
[h=3]Psalm 100:3[/h] Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
God does NOT make mistakes! You are beautifully and wonderfully made! The direct Hebrew translation of this verse (Psalm 139:14) says that you have been AWESOMELY WONDERFULLED! Know God's truth about YOU: You are beautiful! You don't need makeup, or photoshopped skin, or to fit into the world's mold for beautiful. You are already beautiful. Praise be to God! Enough said.
Have a beautiful, blessed day!
I have been struggling with moderately severe acne since I was 13 years old. Basically I hit puberty and my perfect, pretty, very fair childhood skin is replaced by horrible, agitated, red in some areas, pimple covered troll like skin. Yes, I felt like a troll. Still do sometimes, as my acne isn't completely gone yet.
It's really hard being a young girl, especially in the USA. You see models, actresses, posters in clothing stores, etc. of these perfect, photo shopped, beautiful women. And you're the pimply troll walking through the store (I'm not saying YOU, I'm saying that's what I felt like). So there are reminders everywhere, telling you what you should like, wanting to fit you in that perfect girl frame, different is not acceptable. There is make up to cover up all your flaws and differences, and acne products that promise to get rid of your problem and never do, and doctors and dermatologists that you dump hundreds of dollars on who only give you medications that make you throw up your lunch (my own, lovely, personal car sick experience). Then you read about acne, and find that it is very uncommon for girls to have severe acne (as if that makes you feel any better) and all your friends have lovely clear skin.
Acne has GOT to be something straight from hell. It is one of the leading causes of depression and low self-esteem in teens. And it seems impossible to completely get rid of it. You feel like you are being punished for growing up. Sometimes, I get mad at God. On top of having acne, I also have a round face, which more often than not makes me feel fat, and I'm not I'm actually really thin, well athletic is the word as I have a lot of muscle (courtesy of my horses). Then I also have a slightly lazy eye which isn't really 'lazy' anymore but occasionally I'll see it off to the side in the mirror, or even worse pictures. And yes, I avoid pictures at all costs.
I'm sure there is more than one of you that can relate to this. Always feeling like the ugly duckling, next to your pretty older sister and your best friend who came to visit. Thinking "it doesn't matter what I do, it won't go away! I'm cursed!". Many girls resort to make up to feel better about themselves, and there's nothing really wrong with that I suppose. I've just never been into makeup, as it does make the problem worse, and to me that's like putting on a mask to fit in with everybody else. For me, it's like one side of me wants to fit in, while the other wants to stay true to who I am. I usually stay true to myself. I don't want to fall into the 'perfect girl trap' that society seems to force on us. For this reason, I tend to get a lot of attacks on my self esteem. I've never dated anyone, and my 89 year old great aunt just told me "it's time to get a bo". -_- thanks auntie.
I have more knowledge about treating acne than anyone would even want to know. I'm not going to write about that here, but you are free to pm me about it; though I will say that going the natural route, which I like to call God's Way, almost always is more effective. What I want to write about here is the truths that GOD says about us, not the world! When you feel the enemy's lies weighing you down, turn to scripture. God says we are beautifully made! Each of us are unique and dear to him. Each of us are beautiful (or handsome) in our own way! Do you know what God wants to say to you right now? He says "look and see what I have done. How beautiful you are, my creation!! Lovely, wonderful, beautiful, smart, highly cherished you are! You my daughter, and you my son, the royalty of the kingdom, are most highly treasured in my eyes. There could never be another you, you are beautiful and wonderful and unique! No other could match your beauty. I LOVE YOU FOR YOU, dear one!" ~Adonai
Let us look at scripture, and see how God repeats this message over, and over, and over: I love YOU. You are BEAUTIFUL!
[h=3]Psalm 139:13-16[/h] For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
[h=3]Jeremiah 1:4-5[/h] Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
[h=3]Genesis 1:27[/h] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
[h=3]1 John 3:1-2[/h] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
[h=3]Isaiah 64:8[/h] But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
[h=3]Job 31:15[/h] Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
[h=3]Psalm 100:3[/h] Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
God does NOT make mistakes! You are beautifully and wonderfully made! The direct Hebrew translation of this verse (Psalm 139:14) says that you have been AWESOMELY WONDERFULLED! Know God's truth about YOU: You are beautiful! You don't need makeup, or photoshopped skin, or to fit into the world's mold for beautiful. You are already beautiful. Praise be to God! Enough said.
Have a beautiful, blessed day!
