encouraging words wednesday :: beauty

just recently, (in my opinion) i made a drastic change to my appearance. ladies, you know what defines ‘our look’….more often than not its our hairstyle, right? so i did a complete 180. previously long and straight, it’s now short(er) and curly. before this metamorphosis, i agonized. for weeks. i deliberated. i researched (who researches hairstyles?!?!?) i solicited advice and input from sooo many friends. i made my hairdresser crazy even as the change was taking place and there was no.turning.back. everyone was on the edge of their seats while i sat in that chair. prayers were being said on my behalf. seriously.

and then it was done.

did it turn out the way i’d hoped? mmmm……not completely. did i make it work? yup. but then i realized that it really wasn’t worth all that stress. the outcome has not made a huge impact on my life. the world did not stop turning.

“but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.”
~1 peter 3:4

the ‘jesus-girls’ i know – in the blogosphere and in real life – are gorgeous. to me, they are simply radiant. and the characteristic they all share is their love for the Lord. this love touches everything they do and say. their interactions with others, their relationships with family and friends……and it becomes a light that shines for all to see. that is beauty. doesn’t matter which hairstyle their rockin’. has nothing to do with the cute little outfit they have on.

many of us battle with insecurity. i do, big time (as i’ve mentioned before). but God sees what i don’t.

“i praise You because i am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, i know that full well.”
~psalm 139:14

i want to hold those verses in my heart and feel their truth. i may have blogged about this before but it can’t be said too many times.

we are beautiful, every one of us, when we reflect the love of God. amen? amen!