True Beauty

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Beauty can be defined as a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight. There is no one set description for what is beautiful to every single human being. As we know, the standard for beauty changes with the trends and the times. We may feel like we’ve got it today but not tomorrow. We may feel like we have never had it nor is it possible for us to ever have it. Maybe we feel like we do have it but deeply fear it will all be over one day. Well let me to tell you a little secret. You are and always will be beautiful.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What I may believe is beautiful, you may not. So we are not all seeing the same thing. Regardless of what you think, someone out there believes you are beautiful. That nothing needs to change about how you look or talk or walk. To God you will always be on trend. He created you as He did all things and had one thing to say about that. “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” (Gen 1:31) God did not say it was good, he said it was very good. 

You are his precious. You are his beloved. You are his child. The one He pours out His love into because there is nothing like the love from a parent to a child. God created everything and saved the best for last. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NIV) He gave you His best. It can be hard to see that because of the world we live in but the truth lies deep within us. He has no regrets in how He created us. He doesn’t wish He made us bigger or smaller or darker or lighter.

Remember we were made VERY good! 

Pause and listen to your heartbeat with me for a bit. Feel the rhythm of it. Each beat is life giving. Each beat is creating a symphony with the rest of your body as your lungs expand and your muscles tenses and your blood flows and so on. This amazing display of a miracle is taking place inside of your body. One that God took time making with care. The imperfections were made to be loved by the ones that count. The shortcomings were made to be nurtured by those who love you. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks or says. You are whole. You are complete. There is nothing lacking. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

The world can be a harsh and troubling place. It can make you think you are all wrong. That you need to change what is wrong with you. How does your creator feel when you say you want a smaller nose? He had reasons for the way He made you. He has purpose in the way He made you. As different as we are, that uniqueness makes you extra special to Him and to those who love you. You are a blessing inside and out. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.“ (Psalm 139:14) 

True beauty, however, comes from within. “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV) Your true treasure lies within, in who you are. It is up to you to focus on growing and improving your character and maintaining that beauty. 

So what is beauty? You. Repeat it. Remember it. Embrace it. Because it’s true. You were created with love, you are loved so please give love back to yourself. Take care of your body, take time to heal, appreciate everything your body does for you. It’s the body you’ve got and it’s done amazing things. It may not look exactly like how you want it to but it’s been there for you since day one.