10 Biblical Reasons You Should Love your Body, Even During Bikini Season

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

~ Song of Solomon 4:7

Few things strike fear into the heart of a mom like standing in the Target dressing room trying to find a new swimsuit for a beach vacation or a trip to the pool. It’s usually been a long winter; we’re pale, we’ve eaten too much comfort food and we didn’t quite hit our weekly exercise goal.

I was that mom in the Target dressing room before our latest trip to Dauphin Island. I found a swimsuit that was cute and fit me pretty well (which rarely happens) but man, I certainly wasn’t very happy with how I looked.

I was reminded of this struggle when we were at the beach and the mom next door with her husband and daughters never once had a swimsuit on. This poor mom spent the whole week in shorts and a tank top because of what I can only assume is poor body image.

Last week, a friend posted how upset she was because she let time get away from her and she didn’t feel “beach ready” for their upcoming vacation. This was followed up by a cute post by Angela Lanter about how to get a bikini body in 2 steps: 1. Buy a bikini 2. Put a bikini on your body. Oh, if it were only that simple…

So before the summer is gone, I decided we should take a look at some Biblical reasons for why we should love our bodies, even during bikini season.

1. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~ Psalm 139:13-14

God made you and his works are wonderful! You are the woman, wife and mother that he created you to be even if you aren’t 100% happy with what you see in the mirror. You have earned every scar, stretch mark and extra pound and your family loves you no matter what size or shape you are.

2. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16

Let’s face it; we’re getting older, we’ve had kids, staying in shape takes more time and energy than it did before. That’s ok though because we can grow and be renewed on the inside through our relationship with God. Eventually our physical bodies are going to give out on us but our spiritual bodies can flourish.

3. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

There is no doubt that people look at our outward appearance, that’s where most of our insecurities come from. Our hope can come from the fact that the Lord, the one who matters, looks at our heart. That fact is of little consolation when you’re working up the courage to take off the cover up but it might help if we know in our heart that judgement from others usually happens because they’re insecure too.

4. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ~ 1 Peter 3:3-4

When you finally work up the nerve to take off the cover up, don’t just let the world see your bathing suit, let them see your spirit. Let the joy you feel spending time with your family radiate. Wear a smile, joy, and contentment so brightly that the world doesn’t even look at your beach body (or lack thereof).

5. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~Ephesians 2:10

One of the many good works we are called to do is take care of and enjoy our families. Let the insecurities fall away and splash in the pool, build a sandcastle and ride a boogie board with your kids. Be a witness to your children and the world by confidently enjoying these moments with your family.

6. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is –his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Roman's 12:2

We shouldn’t feel pressure to conform to the world, especially the world we see on the Face-Tube-a-Gram that uses filters, angles and lighting. You don’t have to look like the airbrushed models or pour yourself into that cheeky bikini. Find a bathing suit you feel comfortable in whether it’s a bikini, a tankini, or a one-piece with a swim skirt. You get comfortable for you so your focus can be on enjoying time with your family. After 2 kids and 2 abdominal surgeries, I’ve come to accept the fact that I’m not wearing a bikini in public and that’s ok.

7. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! ~ Psalm 133:1

Wouldn’t it be great if we all were kind to one another and spent as much time building each other up as we do silently (or not so silently) judging each other. So many of our insecurities come from judgement, or perceived judgement, from other women. Why do we do that to each other? Let’s all work harder to be kind and live in unity because we never know the struggles other women are facing. Tell the mom at the pool you love her swimsuit or better yet, tell her how much you’ve enjoyed watching her play with her kids.

8. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I’ve talked a lot about being comfortable with who you are and focusing on your heart and your spirit but that doesn’t mean we should neglect our bodies. God made us to work and do great things and if we sit on the couch eating bonbons and not spending time on our physical bodies then we aren’t providing the best temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. I don’t know about you but I always feel better emotionally and physically when I am exercising and taking care of myself. I still don’t have a bikini body, but I feel better and I’m better equipped to keep up with my family and do God’s good works.

9. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ~ Colossians 3:9-10

We were made in the image of our Creator and I think sometimes we forget all of the wonderful things our bodies were created to do for ourselves and others. So let’s all put on our new selves by working on ourselves from the inside out. Renew your spirit and focus on God’s good plans for you. Take care of your physical body so you can keep up with all of the fun your family wants to have and feel good about it.

10. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. ~ Philipians 4:13

You can do ALL things; even put on a bathing suit! Ok, so a bikini bod was certainly not what Paul was talking about in this verse but I think we can still draw inspiration from it. In fact, we can back up a verse and gain something else; I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Content, we need to learn to be content in all situations even if that means being content with our bodies, knowing they will never again look like they did when we were 20.

So the next time you are standing in the dressing room at Target, thinking you are never going in public in a bathing suit again, focus on the fearfully and wonderfully made person that you are. Remember your body is a temple, you were made in God’s image and you were created to do good works. Most of us are at a stage in our life where those good works revolve around raising a family. So, put on that swimsuit and go have fun with your kids while you still have the chance!