The 5 Truths of REAL Beauty
Y'all - I have fought the good fight when it comes to loving my body and appreciating what God gave me. I have NEVER had it easy in this department. The first time I remember feeling bigger than other girls was when I was 6 at camp. I have always been hearty and thick - feeling so much more clunky then my petite little friends. I am sad to say that it was a huge part of my insecurities growing up which has continued into adulthood.
Even now, I wish I could tell you that I because I am saved by grace and have the love of God in me and in my heart - that I am delivered from this but that would not be true. It's still a daily battle I fight. The enemy knows my vulnerabilities and will take EVERY opportunity to use them against me. To keep me small. To keep me distracted.
You see, for me - beauty had always been defined outwardly. How I looked. What I wore. How others perceived me. When I was young, Mom used to dress me in cute dresses, patent leather shoes, and pig tails. I was her pride and joy. Her one and only little girl. Later in my teen years or even into my adulthood, my Mom used to ask, 'Are you going to wear that?' meaning....go change into something more suitable. Appearances were big in my family. How I looked was definitely a part of my identity from a very young age and that spilled over into adulthood.
Appearance and caring too much about how we look and how people perceive us is such a slippery slope friends. On the one hand, it's not a bad thing to want to look nice and present yourself in a certain way. Yet on the other hand, we must be careful not to let it overtake us to the point where it can become an idol. Our identity. How we define ourselves. When we place TOO much worth into our worldly flesh, we will ALWAYS be disappointed.
According to Websters, beauty is defined as follows : the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit
Beauty in and of itself is something that God gifted us with. When He created us in his image, He stepped back and said 'it is good'. God only creates beauty. Everything He puts His hands on creates goodness and love. Everything He creates brings pleasure. God *IS* the definition of beauty. This is the FIRST thing we must remember.
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
This is our first TRUTH, friends. That God is good and wonderful and everything He creates is good and wonderful. Take a moment and let that sink in! God does not create trash! He does not create things that are no good! He is the author of beauty and that is all He sees when He looks at you! Yet, we have to be careful of this though don't we? Just like we can get carried away with HOW we look, that is not how God sees beauty. I love this scripture from 1st Samuel, which is our TRUTH nugget #2:
2. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
When God was looking for a new king, Samuel presented only the sons that he thought 'fit the bill'. Those that were strong, experienced, looked the part. Yet God beckoned Samuel to bring David in from tending sheep, noting he was the one! Much to Samuel's surprise, God was not using the same evaluation system for selecting a King. It wasn't about posture, strength, or looking the part. It was about the HEART. God saw something in David, the young sheperd boy, that even his father did not see. That is because God sees us and judges us differently. Just like He sees something in YOU and in me, that our loved ones don't see. That we can't even see in ourselves. He looks at our character. He looks at our potential. He knows the purpose we were created here to serve and He breathes life into that - if we let him. So how do we do that? Let's talk about TRUTH #3:
3. 1 Peter 3: 3-4 Let your true beauty come from your inner personality, not a focus on the external. For lasting beauty comes from a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is previous in God's sight and is much more important than the outward adornment of elaborate hair, jewelry, and fine clothes.
I believe that one of the greatest things we can learn about beauty as women, can be found in this scripture right here. Beauty is not about how we look, what we wear, what size we are. TRUE beauty is found in what flows out of our hearts. It is found in how we shine bright for Jesus. Think about someone you know who just glows with love for Christ. Doesn't she just light up a room? Doesn't her smile just spread joy? Don't you just melt in her arms when she hugs you as if Jesus is hugging you himself? THIS is what this scripture is all about. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with our hair, or jewelry or what we wear. That doesn't mean all of those are wrong (I mean - a killer outfit from Marshall's is my JAM!! and I'm in LOVE with my hair care line) yet it does not define who we are and it certainly does not define our beauty. Our beauty comes from how much our heart is filled with a love for Jesus SO much that it spills out onto others.
4. Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
You see - THAT is what the Proverbs 31 woman is all about. It's not about what she accomplishes nor how early she gets up to perform her duties. What sets her apart is the love she has for her Jesus. It is *through* that love that enables her to do all the things. The first few times I read these sets of scriptures in Proverbs 31, my thought was 'how exhausting!' You see, I was seeing all of the things listed as a set of tasks to be done. A super long To Do list that we must complete in order to demonstrate how much we love Jesus. In order to earn His love back. You see, I had it all wrong! It was her LOVE for Jesus and how she *sought* Him in all she did that demonstrated her true beauty. BIG difference. I've since been learning to strive less and love more. A woman who strives is not a woman who glows with love for Jesus. In fact, she appears unapproachable. She barely slows down to connect with others. Yet a woman who loves....well, she just welcomes you in! I'm working on the loving part (I tend to be an introverted and awkward person if I don't know you) yet in my prayer time, I've been seeking his hand in this area. Asking him to teach me how to love unconditionally. To help me fill up with His love for me SO much that it overflows and spills on to others. THAT is what I aspire to be!!! A woman overflowing with a love for Jesus!
5. Song of Songs 4:7 You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
And finally darling friend - this beautiful truth from Song of Songs. Remember - God makes NO mistakes. He created you as a flawless human being. Now hear me - that most certainly does not mean perfect. No human is perfect. Only Jesus is perfect. Yet when He looks at you, you sees only His goodness. He sees the flawless beauty He created. He sees you just like Jesus and white as snow. Soak that in for a moment friend. He created you flawlessly and that is how He sees you.
Beautiful.
Worthy.
Flawless.
Even though we do not deserve His love in this way, He freely gives it, asking absolutely nothing in return. Receive that friend. Receive what He is freely giving you.
In His Name,