Just as the season for non-stop Christmas music on the radio ends, the season of self-improvement advertisements begins.  This is the time of year where every gym, diet plan, and plastic surgeon is asking insistently: “Are you ready for a brand-new you?”

My response to this as a Christian is ambivalent.  On the one hand, Paul tells us that “if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17)  I believe that God’s redeeming grace changes people.  Speaking personally, I only wish God would change me more thoroughly.

But there is another part of me that resists this whole “brand new you” thinking that accompanies New Year’s resolutions.  Far be it from me to discourage you from trying to live in a healthier way, to be a better partner or parent, to be more mindful of the daily experience of life.  These are laudable goals.

But why would you want a “brand new you?”  Because you imagine that you are defective?  Because you don’t conform to what someone else expects of you?  Because you don’t conform to the cultural norms of beauty or sexuality or success?  These are not motivations to improve; these are lies that deny your God-given goodness.

The you that is lumpier than you wish is still a good you.

The you that is not going to afford an Instagram-worthy Caribbean vacation is still a good you.

The you that is not girly enough or manly enough to satisfy “them” is still a good you.

You, just the way you are right now, are:
a creation of the God who loves you and became flesh to redeem you
a temple of the Holy Spirit (good enough for God to live in!)
a unique child of God deserving of dignity.

We could be better: better behaved, better in our relationships, better stewards of our health.  But don’t let the room for improvement be twisted into a shame-filled hatred of yourself.  God loves you as is.  If God loves us, we can love ourselves.

Prayer: Forgive me; when I imagine being a “new me,” most of the time I am really wishing to be someone else.  Give me grace to become more fully who you have made me to be.  Amen.