| Beauty- This six-letter word encompasses the dreams of almost, if not every, little girl. Females have a deeply-rooted desire to be beautiful in their own eyes as well as the eyes of others. What exactly is beauty? The answer to this question all depends on perspective. The world defines beauty based on outward appearances alone. You are not beautiful if you are not physically attractive. According to the world�s standards, beauty means being thin and tall. A clear complexion, shiny hair, straight teeth, radiant skin, and correct proportions are elements of beauty. Movies, TV shows, magazine covers, and many actresses, singers, and famous people further this definition of beauty. Beauty and perfection go hand-in-hand. Because perfection is not realistic, then this definition of beauty is skewed. Thank goodness that the worldly view is not the true definition of beauty! I would never measure up, and I am sure that very few other people would as well. Beauty as the world defines it is not obtainable, but beauty as God defines it is obtainable! Let�s take a look at what God has to say about beauty. I Peter 1:3-4 says, �And let not your adornment be merely external-the braiding of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God (NASB)� When Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint the chosen king, God had each of Jesse�s sons pass before him. David was the chosen one, and even though he was handsome and attractive, God makes it clear that David�s appearance was not the standard for His favor toward this young man. I Samuel 16:7 says, �But the LORD said to Samuel, �Do not look at his [Eliab�s] appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart� (NASB). Proverbs 31:30 �Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised� (NASB). Ecclesiastes 3:11 �He has made everything beautiful in its time� (NIV). Genesis 6:27, 31 �And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good...� (NASB). These are just a few of the verses that reveal God�s definition of beauty. God�s standard of beauty is not outward appearances, but the heart. God does not love you because of what size you wear, what number the scales say when you step on them, whether or not your hair cut is stylish, whether or not your teeth are white and straight, or whether or not your face is pimple- free. He looks at your heart! Beloved, God sees you as beautiful because He made you beautiful! If your heart belongs to Him, you are radiantly beautiful in the eyes of your King! This didn�t become real to me overnight, and I still struggle with accepting the fact that I am beautiful to God. One thing that opened my eyes to this realization happened on an ordinary day this past semester. �I�ll see you on Friday,� said my professor. I had been longing to hear these words since class began. As I left my Western Civilization class, I headed the opposite direction of my friends. I did not want anyone to talk to me. I was overwhelmed by my thoughts, and I just wanted to be alone. I felt ugly, fat, and stressed. I began walking toward a grassy area on campus and prayed to God. I told Him how I was feeling and how I wanted to give up. I heard Him gently speak to my heart, �I know, Kelly. I know.� As I kept walking, I looked down and at my feet were several beautiful purple wild flowers. I picked one and kept walking. God began to quiet my heart and calm the storm within my mind. That little wild flower was beautiful because God�s hand had created it that way. Nothing the flower did on its own made it beautiful. It was not beautiful because it restricted the amount of sunlight it received or the amount of sugar it made in photosynthesis. God provided for the flower, and He made it beautiful! Daughter of God, you and I are like that purple wild flower. We are beautiful not because of anything we do. We cannot make ourselves more beautiful by jogging five miles a day, eating less, counting calories, purging, taking laxatives or diet pills, or anything else. God has already created us beautifully! By His hand alone, we are beautiful! Oh, how I yearn for you to take hold of this truth! Your King is calling out to you, �Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you� (Song of Solomon 2.10, 4.7 NASB). You are beautiful in the eye of your Beholder! |
| Beauty |