You're OK

The other night at Bible Study we got into a discussion about weight loss (UGH!). It's a subject that seems that continually scream for our attention.  Many people in the room have gained and lost weight many times, and are just so tired of feeling like failures when it comes to maintaining their perfect weight.  (In the words of 'Fat Bastard', a Mike Meyers Character from the Austin Powers series "I eat because I'm unhappy, and I'm unhappy because I eat")

But when we dug a little deeper, we  spread that feeling of failure is not only pervasive in all areas of our society, but it is also crafted and implemented intentionally. 
We live in a society that depends on us not being "ok" with our appearance, our weight, our cars, our homes, jobs, government- you name it! It needs fixing!
Our economy thrives on this thinking.  If we can be made to feel like we have a problem, well, then that problem can be fixed by any number of products and/or ideas.  And what's more, there is no shortage of people to "help" us reach our goal.  (Whatever that may be- thinner, prettier, richer, safer)

When I worked in sales I learned three rules of selling:
    1. Create a sense of urgency (translation:create  problem)
    2. Offer a solution (moving all obstacles that may prohibit the sale, out of the way)
    3. Convince the customer that you are the only one who can possibly make their dreams come true.

Apply those simple rules of selling to every day life in our country, and you will see them all over, from car sales to fitness & health, to pharmaceuticals to factory farming, to education, to government!
"Not feeling pretty enough? We can fix your ugly smile, your bulging thighs, your nose that is obviously too big, your ankles that are too think, breasts that are too small..." "Kids not smart enough? Buy this... send them here..." "feeling alone? No problem... we have the perfect match for you"  (You get the picture...)

The problem is that all of us profess to know that you can do what you want to the outside, but inside each of us lies the "real" us- the one that was created by and is acceptable to the one who created us. Now, I say that we know this, but very few really believe it, much less live it out.  We buy into the lie- willingly- that somehow all of us are deficient in some way.  And That our deficiency need not hold us back from having everything we dream!

But there is another message- one that runs counter to the message of society.  And that is the message of the Gospel; that despite how you look, feel, thing, act- you are acceptable, and moreover, you are God's delight.  And while that is a difficult message to accept, and even harder to live out, (not to mention it doesn't sell or do one thing to boost the economy) it is, at your core who you are. 
I think it's time that we took back our self esteem and base our view of ourselves, not on what others say about us, but what God says about us.  You are OK!
Just food for thought...