It took me eighteen years to understand that I was beautiful. I worked with the world’s bag of tricks in hopes of feeling “pretty”. Exfoliating face masks, voluminous mascara, and burning hot curling irons threw me in for a loop. I could not keep up with society’s ever-changing looks. My face shone red, pimply and blotchy through my layered foundation and powder. My eyelashes could never be long enough or thick enough without those little black crumbs, and messy, beachy waves were impossible to perfect with my pin straight hair. The compliments that I received felt surfacy, so I never took them seriously which only made things worse. Satan made sure I woke up feeling ugly and once the natural beauty was exposed by night, he made sure that I was unsatisfied with the reflection I saw in the mirror.
1 Peter 3:3-4 says, “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.” It is hard to extinguish the desire to fit into society’s trend. The standards are set in each billboard, flyer, television commercial and magazine, immediately killing self-confidence while elevating anyone who can emulate the latest look. However, God says something different.
You are beautiful. The Lord tells us to find beauty in our character as it is far more valuable than rubies (Proverbs 31:10). The Lord never makes mistakes and you are not one of them. Although many people judge based on first impressions of waist size and hair texture, your character is what they remember. People remember the sacrifice of letting them go first in line or the smile you give them because it may be the only one they see that day. The Lord has created each of us uniquely inside and out, and He takes pride in what He has created in each of our hearts as we long for Him and display His loving, selfless character.
The Lord doesn’t say that makeup and styling tools are bad, but worshipping your outward appearance is not what He desires for your life. Do not be discouraged, you are stunning in God’s eyes and always will be. That is all that matters. He has fearfully and wonderfully made you and calls you His own. We aren’t called to live up to the standards and expectations of the world on you, but to find what the Lord requires of you and understand that you are beautiful. It’s in this understanding that you find peace and beauty.
Jordyn is a graduate from Olentangy Liberty High School and will be attending High Point University in the fall. She loves spending time with friends, photo shoots and shopping.
