Body Truth Collective

Helping Young Women Become Compassionate, Capable, and Strong

On Guys, Dating, and Being Made in His Image with Hannah Patterson

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Today’s post was written by Hannah Patterson.  Here she is, rocking her smile and those gorgeous cowboy boots!

Howdy! That’s what we say here in College Station, Texas. My name is Hannah Patterson and I am an Allied Health major from Dallas, Texas, but more importantly I am THE loudest and THE proudest member of the fighting Texas Aggie class of 2023! 

As a college student, and just being a girl in general, I am constantly surrounded by people and things saying I’m not enough and I’m not perfect. I am pressured to change the way I look at almost every moment, and so are most girls in today’s society.

Everywhere on any kind of media we see public figures and images of women who have been photo-shopped and edited and are told we should strive for this image. These are lies that are pushed at me every day and are ways the devil tries to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). But Jesus has come so that we may have life and freedom from these lies. He says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Jesus Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). [Read more…] about On Guys, Dating, and Being Made in His Image with Hannah Patterson

Know Your Enemy

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James Pond @unsplash nailed this photo. Crushing the Lego Enemy!

Have you ever looked at a magazine cover, and suddenly you felt not thin enough? Not curvy enough? Like your hair wasn’t thick enough or the right color?

Does that magazine model look “just so perfect” that it makes you second guess your beauty?

Well, that’s exactly what the magazine cover is supposed to do. The words and images work together to convince you: Buy this magazine, you will FINALLY know the secrets to becoming beautiful.

Satan attempts to scheme in these moments. He whispers to you, You need this magazine. Or this hair product. And these shoes.
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Methodeias is the Greek word Paul uses for “schemes” in Ephesians 6:10- Methodeias refers to a large scale, systematic plan. A project. A game-plan.

His schemes are organized, and they feed on our insecurities.

But if you know that Satan is scheming when that insecurity starts to rise up in you, you can identify what is happening. You have a good chance at STANDING against the schemes of the devil if [Read more…] about Know Your Enemy

Holding Hands With Your People

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This image invites sunset to highlight friendship and unity. Taken by Noorul Abdeen @unsplash.

“Red Rover, Red Rover, let Ruthie come over!” your team yells in unison. Half a second later, here comes Ruthie.

She is running with that fierce look in her eyes, her arms pumping fast, as she makes her way toward you and your Red Rover neighbor. The two of you are each other’s only defense.

One of two things is about to happen. Either you and your friend’s hands will stay locked, your arms stiffened with strength, and Ruthie will not break your barrier.Or one of you will exhaust your grip strength, your hands sweaty and tired, and Ruthie will break through to the other side. You will lose your footing and your body will give way.

Messages about your identity, specifically what you believe about your God-given body, are running toward you everyday. Most of the hurtful, negative messages are based on lies.

Hold hands with people who believe God’s truth about you! Keep them close. When twisted and tricky messages threaten to weaken you, “your people” will help you stand. At the very least, they will not let you fall alone.

Young Woman, You Are Strong

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Here, Anne Frank is 12 years old. It is one of my favorite photos of her because it captures her innocence and her strength.

“I know that I’m a woman, a woman with inward strength and plenty of courage.” -Anne Frank

In 1942, Holland’s Jewish community sought refuge from the Nazis. Most “hid” in their own homes, including Anne Frank and her family. Three months before their capture, she recorded these words in her diary. She was almost 13.

Today our culture shies away from naming a female, who is 13 or 15 or 17, a woman. And yet Anne saw herself as a woman as she neared 13 years old.

I wonder if naming ourselves “women” somehow solidifies the strength we think we are capable of. Strength to lift heavy weight. Strength to help those who are weaker than ourselves. Strength to turn away [Read more…] about Young Woman, You Are Strong

Capable: What I Learned from Lauren Daigle and Jesus

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A capable woman, Lauren Daigle communicates her dependence on a 100% Capable God.

In her interview with All Access, Lauren Daigle speaks about one of the most significant lessons she has learned from reading God’s Word. Referring to the book of Daniel, she states, “It is teaching me how to lead others from a place of security and what God is capable of rather than earthly circumstances.”

Ms. Daigle has had many opportunities to trust and see that God is capable of beautiful work when circumstances speak defeat.

At 15, she fought a debilitating illness that kept her out of school for two years. When she was well enough to attend college, she sang with her school choir, but faced heartbreaking discouragement after being cut from the 2010 competition, American Idol. Afterward, Ms. Daigle continued to pursue her dream of singing, but she hustled to pay her bills — waiting tables and cleaning houses. She recalls, “I used to scrub toilets in exchange for singing lessons.” [Read more…] about Capable: What I Learned from Lauren Daigle and Jesus

She is Compassionate

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I love this picture of friendship taken by @priscilladupreez.

“Tend and befriend.”

I heard these three words earlier in the week as I was preparing for our conversations about compassion. And I can’t get them out of my head.

“Tend and befriend” is a statement that researcher Shelley Taylor used to describe the nature of women. There’s something innate in us, young women and old-er women alike, that desires to 1) Tend or care for others and 2) Befriend or make meaningful friendships.

We were made for tending and befriending. Which is to say we were made for relationships that desperately need kindness and compassion.

Research scientist Emma Seppala, PhD studies compassion, and she has seen how compassion positively affects our bodies — our health and our self image. [Read more…] about She is Compassionate