[Once a week, I am going to be sharing with you a brave story sent in from a reader. You can comment, respond, encourage. Want to submit your own story or a story of a brave friend of yours? Head to thatisbrave.com!]

This week’s #thatisbrave story comes from Audrey Shae. She is wrestling through some hard things that many of us, no matter our age, can relate. Not only is she brave in her wrestling, I think it was really brave to share! Her words, and her name, are used with her permission.

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Hi, Annie.

I’m a teenage girl who battles on a daily basis with vanity. I obsess over healthy food. I desperately searched for my self-esteem by how my three dimensional existence looked liked, but I didn’t find much. At all. I was left empty-handed. Every morning, I rise and battle the idol of self-worship. But, I am getting better. I am slowly finding my self-esteem in my lovely soul and the One who created it. Some days, I stumble. I work out a bit too much or stress over situations that involve ‘unhealthy’ food. But, Jesus is carrying me, because I am truly not strong enough to walk this road on my own. God is guiding me to the path of mental health. He is ultimately guiding me to Him, my Guide and my Strength. God is forcing me to trust in him. My radical Healer is asking me to keep my chin up and be brave for him. Everyday.

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If you have any encouragement for Audrey Shae- leave it in the comments below!

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