Putting on a bathing suit is the bane of my summer existence!! I am not at all excited about moving from being fully clothed to wearing a  swim suit! 

No matter how much effort I put into diet and exercise in the weeks before summer, I never feel quite ready to expose my pale skin and less than perfect physique to the whole world at the neighborhood pool!  Seriously, it’s enough to keep me indoors all day every day!

But what am I missing out on because I’m allowing my insecurities to hold me back from a place where I could be connecting with neighbors and making new friends?   I want to get to the point where I am not focused on myself and what I lack, but on how inviting I can be to other women at the pool (who may be experiencing the same insecure feelings that I do!).  Instead of worrying about all of my physical deficiencies and who looks better or worse than me, I want to be secure in who God created me to be, “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  While others might look at the outside appearance, I know that God looks at the heart.  His word tells me this in 1 Samuel 16:7.  “The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.”   I want to be more like Christ and  focus on the hearts of the women I encounter at the pool this summer, and not be concerned about how my body stacks up next to theirs!

With a deep breath, I will take the plunge and pray for God’s light and love to shine through me, as I enjoy the sunshine, some comradery and a refreshing dip in the pool!

Where do your insecurities hold you back from engaging with others?  How is God calling you to drop your guard and jump in?