But What About When it is True? {GIVE AWAY DAY}

I am so excited to share this powerful truth today from my new friend, Maria Furlough. This is going to really help us!

Stay around for the end because we are giving away a copy of Maria’s new book

“Confident Moms, Confident Daughters.” 

 

Every time I looked in the mirror I saw the imperfections, the less than beautiful parts, and the pieces of me that needed changing.  And for so long I had convinced myself to just keep calling them “lies” and move on. But it all ended up being true.  

I was holding my brand new baby girl, I was entirely unwhole and held fistfuls of insecurity.  

As I looked at her I saw my own insecure youth flash before my eyes and righteous anger welled up in me.  “I don’t want it to be this way for her!”

I remember my prayer like it was yesterday:

Lord I don’t know how to do this, I don’t know what to show her, but I want her to grow up loving exactly who she is and loving the way you made her.  I can’t do this, but I know you can. Will you help me?

It was on; I went to war on my insecurity.  I had a Bible in one hand, a prayer journal in the other, and years worth of youth ministry experience running through my brain.  I was shocked at some of the things I uncovered.

 

You might already know this verse, but putting it into the context of body image and insecurity was a game-changer for me.  I pray that today, as I share it with you, it will wash over you like a soothing balm to your burdened soul.  

1 Corinthians 12:9-10 says this,

“He [God] said to me [Paul], “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

All those self-condemning thoughts, all that nit-picking on my imperfections, all the parts I wished were more perfect guess what?  I wasn’t wrong about them! In fact, it was all true.  

True: My body is not perfect.

True: I am not perfect.

True: I have physical weaknesses.

True: So do our beautiful, kind, sweet, lovely, amazing, and awesome daughters.

For so long I was trying to cover over my insecurity as if I was wrong, but I’m smarter than that. We are all smarter than that.  Its why when someone looks at us and says, “Oh my goodness you are beautiful” it doesn’t actually solve our insecurity issue.

Our insecurity issue cannot be healed by fixing all our weaknesses.  It can only be fixed by shifting our gaze out of the mirror and onto Christ Himself.

 

“Confident Moms, Confident Daughters” releases today!

Get your copy here!

**** This contest is closed and we have a winner. Tracy Barrow – Congratulations! ****

Maria Furlough is a wife and a mother to one amazing 11-year-old daughter, three rambunctious boys and one baby boy who lives in the arms of Jesus. She teaches women’s Bible studies and works as the Missions Team leader at Lake Forest Church in Huntersville, North Carolina, and is a former full-time youth pastor. Maria is the author of Breaking the Fear Cycle: How to Find Peace for You Anxious Heart and  Confident Moms, Confident Daughters: Helping Your Daughter live free from Insecurity and LOVE How She Looks. You can find Maria on Instagram or Facebook @MariaFurlough or online at www.mariafurlough.com.

Lynn

96 Comments

    1. Charity Armstrong says:

      Madeline Paige Armstrong

    2. Kathy Vanpool says:

      This is awesome, I have a grown daughter and so understand this need. I have a friend who adopted 3 teenager girls. Two off in college one still at home Allie Costner who is 20 with slower leaning abilities that this would be awesome for. They have adapted to the new life style and so try in fit in and have great parents teaching Christian values. All three are special in my heart! It is so hard to feel confident in yourself when you don’t have skills everyone else around you have. Thankyou for informing us about this book.

      1. Lynn Cowell says:

        Thank you for sharing, Kathy! Parenting is so easy thing. The more we can help each other, the better!

  1. accepting your weakness, be vulnerable to admit and share, and allowing to be perfect in and through Him… In Christ I am strong

  2. Tish Mills says:

    Brislin, Sarah Grace

  3. I love this perspective. Thank you so much for this post. I’d love to win a copy for my daughter Rebekah She has none of my weight issues and looks absolutely gorgeous according to everyone whoever sees her. Yet, in spite of my best efforts, she still has body image and confidence issues.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      It really isn’t about what is outside, but what is inside, is it, Gail? We all need Christ Confidence; a confidence we can’t lose or have taken from us!

      1. My friend’s name is Annie.
        Thank you! Blessings.

  4. My daughter is little, but definitely her! Also, my niece and a girl at church that we have taken under our wing!

  5. Patricia Williams says:

    Carmen Elizabeth Williams

  6. CRYSTAL J RATERING says:

    My sweet girl Maya Jo

  7. My two daughters, but especially my oldest.

  8. Vicky Wright says:

    Eleanor Anne my granddaughter. She is only 4 but I believe it’s never too early!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      I believe that is well. One reason I write for women of ALL ages …. 🙂

  9. Kristine Cottone says:

    Emily Rachel

  10. Kim Daugherty says:

    My Daughters Izzy and Anna! Especially Izzy! ❤❤❤❤

  11. Annaliese and Mary Grace❤️❤️

  12. Jacqueline says:

    My dear struggling friend Victoria..

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Jesus, You alone know the weight and the full details to Victoria’s struggles. You alone have what she needs. Bring wisdom, strength and Holy Spirit empowered hope to carry her until she reaches the other side of this trial. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

  13. Kim my daughter who just lost her fiancé who was a cop

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Oh Vonnie …

      Dear Lord, so much pain. Thank you that You, Holy Spirit, are Comfort Himself. Come and wrap arms of comfort around Vonnie, her daughter and their family. Hold them up when they feel like they can not take one more step. Help them to see the sun when darkness seems to be all there is and ever will be. Thank you for being with us, Father. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

    1. Thanks for sharing, Lynn!

      My twin sister, Jeanine who suffers from anger, insecurity and alcoholism. The book would be perfect for her because she wont listen to me. Perhaps someone else she would.

      1. Lynn Cowell says:

        This is when we ask the Holy Spirit to do what only He can. Move her heart and help her to see her need for Jesus’ healing!

  14. Gail Miller says:

    My granddaughter, Kaydence and Charis?

  15. Delores McPherson says:

    My granddaughter, Megan

  16. Terri Septer says:

    I would ❤️ to share this with my granddaughters and my nieces!

  17. Sarah, my daughter. Such a powerful message that I need as well as she does.

  18. Betty Currie says:

    My niece Giselle, her daughters Coe, Cambrie and AnnaLynn, newly adopted sixteen year old daughter from the Ukraine. This book sounds perfect for their family.

  19. Laura Califf says:

    My sweet girl Emalee!

  20. Tiffany Fortenberry says:

    My beautiful Brianna!

  21. My adopted daughter Rozie. She lost her birth mom in a grizzly murder, her birth dad abandoned her and her adopted father passed from cancer. She struggles with certainty and feeling she belongs.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Oh Deni, she has had such a rough start in life. When I was 19, I began to understand what it truly meant for God to be my father. Knowing Him in this way, has really helped to fill that empty space in my heart.

  22. Christianne McCall says:

    Any one of my 3 daughters! We could all use help in this area!

  23. Jennifer Carr says:

    Candice & Akira

  24. Rachelle Craig says:

    Josie! ?❤️

  25. I would love to give this book to my oldest daughter, Alyssa, age 20. She is going through a tough time. She recently lost her job due to debilitating migraines and being in bed for up to 2 weeks at a time. This was her dream job. She is beginning a job on Monday that she isn’t so sure of and her confidence is failing and her anxiety is high. She is searching for answers and trying to trust in God.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Brenda, this season in your daughter’s life is hard as she is trying to find her way in the world of becoming an adult. I am so glad she has you for her mom to come alongside and cheer her on. The two of you might enjoy doing my Bible study together: Make Your Move: Finding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures.

  26. ~Irelande~ ♡
    I love that we live in a time where we can inspire and encourage one another – young and older alike!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Me too! It makes us feel like we are not alone when it comes to the big responsibility of raising children!

  27. Juliana Gouveia says:

    Annabelle & Abigail

  28. Jennifer Dotinga says:

    I’m part of a ministry that helps kids that might be struggling with certain issues and it’ll be a great resource to use to help them be more confident in who they are.

  29. Leah Shumack says:

    My 13 year old daughter – Caterina

  30. Stephanie says:

    My friend’s daughter Elizabeth.

  31. I have two girls,Sammie and Addie .thank you for the chance

  32. Jennifer Carroll says:

    Well there two girls that I want to help become confident…my two daughters Haley and Amberly.

  33. kelly woods says:

    I would love this for my daughter Gracie. She has Type 1 diabetes and struggles sometimes with depression. I think this would be an encouragement for her. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.