I’d like to start by quickly apologizing for the fact that
I haven’t posted much. As you can see - In All Faithfulness has new look! Also, if you scroll down a bit, you'll see on the sidebar a new little box where you can send me feedback, ideas, prayer
requests, questions, and suggestions for what to write about. Thanks!
It’s
pretty hard to disagree with the fact that almost every single woman, of any
age, struggles with the way they look. We look in the mirror every day and see
nothing but imperfection and flaws. We see the opposite of what society says we
should look like. We start to allow what people say about us slowly sink in and
break us apart. And every day, the lies we tell ourselves start to become a
part of us. And we allow it.
People
don’t realize how young girls are when we start to feed them these lies. And as
they grow up they learn that the world sets standards for the way women should
look. They teach us that we have to fit these standards in order to be accepted
or even presentable to society. And the more they start to grow up the more
they start to realize they can never achieve those standards. And I can’t even
begin to explain how haywire it gets from there. And what’s it all for, anyway?
For men? Some might say that. Because women need to have confidence? I hear
that one a lot. But people don’t seem to realize that our confidence, and our
beauty, comes from a very different source. And today I’m going to share what
that is. Even though most of you already are very aware of it, I want to go in
depth with it. I want you to leave this blog with a new frame of mind. Maybe
that’s wishful thinking, or maybe it’s simply impossible, but we’ll see.
I’m sure
you’ve heard about or read this verse before – 1 Peter 3:3-4. {pictured}. But
we’re going to go in depth of what this verse really means. Let’s start at, “Do
not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of
gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - ...” Now this was written way back in
AD 62-63...yet we can see that women adorned themselves in all the same ways. They
would attempt to beautify themselves in order to be accepted, liked, and
admired. Maybe even sometimes you, yes, I’m talking to you, don’t even feel
comfortable leaving the house without makeup covering your face? You can’t let society
see your blemishes, right? And I can’t be the only one who spends sometimes
hours picking out what to wear because nothing is “just right”. I want people
to think highly of me, and I’m sure you do too. But stop and think with me here
– in what ways have our methods of beautification gotten in the way of who God
created us to be? Let’s look further into the verse, “But let your adorning be
the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit,” What Peter is saying in the first part of this verse, is let
your beauty come from “the hidden person of the heart.” Or, you. Too
often girls get caught up in trying to be somebody else. God created you with a
purpose in mind – don’t let your desire to be as perfect as those photo shopped
women on magazine covers get in the way of living out God’s grand design for
your life. The Godly woman hidden inside you...that is more beautiful than any
makeup or clothing can give you. Which leads us to “...with the imperishable
beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,...” This is something we see in the characteristics
and attributes of a Godly woman at heart. Close your eyes and think about a “gentle
and quiet spirit.”... Seriously, close your eyes and picture it. Why do I get
the feeling you still haven’t done it? Just take a couple seconds and think about
it. Then picture those attributes in yourself.
Does it match up with the way your spirit is now? Probably not. I know mine
doesn’t. To be gentle and quiet is someone who focuses on God before anything
else in the world can come between them. Their relationship with the Lord is
intimate and highly cherished. They do not take delight in evil, instead the
live out their lives peacefully in the Lord. This is the hidden person of the
heart, don’t you see? With that, take a look at the very last part of the
verse... “...Which is God’s sight is very precious.” Isn’t that beautiful? That
God would look unto us, His children, and see us as precious. God. Like, creator of the universe,
ya know? And He sees me as precious?
That’s pretty incredible.
So, if
there’s one thing I hope you leave here with. It’s this...
When you
start hating on yourself, maybe it’s your body size, your complexion, or
anything that you just dislike, or even hate, about yourself...remind yourself
of 1 Peter 3:3-4. If you can, write it on your bedroom/bathroom mirror, or
write it on a note card and stick it someplace where you will see it every day.
Eventually you will memorize it and you will carry that peace of knowing that
your beauty comes from a more magnificent source. Don’t let the influences of
this world impact your idea of beauty. The maker of the universe created you to
be just the way you are – everything about you reflects your Father, for He
doesn’t make mistakes, and His creations are flawless and perfect. Rejoice in
that, and share it with others.
~Faith
