Patti Burris

1 Peter 3:3-4

³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ 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.

I have always found flaws with my physical appearance. I’m a plain Jane, a bit overweight and nothing spectacular to look at. I’m pretty sure that I am not the only one that can pick out my flaws easier than I can tell you what I like about my physical appearance. Unfortunately, we live in a society where everything is all about outward beauty. The media tells us all about the pretty people in Hollywood or inundates us with advertisements on how to make ourselves more beautiful on the outside. We get judged by how we look. If you aren’t beautiful on the outside then you are often overlooked. I have NEVER in my 45 years felt like I was beautiful on the outside. This feeling of ugliness causes me to hide and not put myself out there. I’m afraid that if I step outside my comfort zone that I will be judged by my outward appearance, instead of who I am on the inside.

Fortunately, the ONE who knows my inmost being and knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) sees my heart and thinks that I am beautiful. My heavenly Father made me exactly who I am and He knows that I struggle to see myself as He sees me. He thinks that I am beautiful. He does not see the flaws that I see. My God just sees my heart and how I try to be a woman of God to my kids and to others. He knows I’m not perfect, but He is gracious and merciful when I run to Him in repentance. He sees me and He loves me just as I am.

Our wonderful Father in heaven sees your heart and He thinks that YOU are beautiful. It doesn’t matter what physical flaws you may be beating yourself up over, God looks past those “flaws” and looks straight into your heart. If you have grown up with the lie that you are ugly, that you are fat, that you will never be beautiful, don’t believe it! They are lies of the enemy and He will do whatever it takes to get you to believe them. Don’t compare yourself to the actors, actresses and models on T.V. and in magazines. I’m sure they could give you a list of their flaws and many times they are airbrushed and technically improved. We are all different. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Don’t dishonor God by comparing yourself to someone else. God made YOU the way you are for a reason. God does not make mistakes. Don’t believe the lies of the Devil. Believe what God says in His Word! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!