The Beautiful Truth

Do we even truly understand what beauty is? I don't think so.

What we wear, how skinny or not we are, how much makeup we have on, and what that boy or girl says does not define whether we are beautiful. So many times we base our beauty on how we feel and what others think of us. This can and will get us into so much trouble. Our feelings are never the same, let's be honest especially as girls, they can change without us even noticing. Why would we base what we think of ourselves off of something or someone that changes all the time. Why would we base it on other people that are just as sinful, judgmental, and broken as we are? Why not base it on the TRUTH? Our Father who never changes, who was there in the beginning and will be there in the end, Our Father who created you to be specifically and uniquely you.

Almost everything around us distorts how we think about beauty: the magazines, movies, TV, friends, family ect. and yet we try and grasp what beauty is when everyone has a different definition of what they think it is. Our culture today robs us of true satisfaction in ourselves (or in anything). There are not many influences reminding you that you are great and encouraging you about what you do or how you look. It is always pointing towards changing who you are and how to do you better. We are constantly comparing ourselves to this ideal. Consistent comparison causes resentment and dissatisfaction because we cannot fit the ideal beauty we are striving for. This ruins our spirit and our joy for being ourselves- because others are telling us and therefore we tell ourselves that we are never good enough and that we need something different. And if we are being honest and serious none of those things make us feel better about ourselves. Why would we want to strive for something that isn't even going to make us feel better or enjoy life more?

Realizing you are truly beautiful is not an easy thing, trust me! I know you know what I am talking about. When people tell you that you are beautiful do you believe them? I know when I tell girls they are beautiful they roll their eyes and deny it. How often do you look at someone else wishing that you looked like that? When you do finally look the way you thought you should, or wore the outfit that you wanted, did it make you feel better? It never did for me. Only when I learned to believe and live in Gods truth did it change and become real. It is not a physical thing that needs to change, it's our hearts and mindsets. We just have the wrong definition of beauty.


Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well


Genesis 1:27
So God created mankind in His own image
   in the image of God He created them;
  male and female He created


Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's handiwork, 
    created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
   which God prepared in advance for us.


Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. 
   He also set eternity in the human heart;
   yet no one can fathom what God has done
   from beginning to end.


1 Peter 3:3-4
Your 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 the great worth in God's sight.


We are encouraged so many time in the word that we are beautiful to God and to look at the things that matter to find worth and beauty. The verse in 1 Peter is so great because it calls us all out saying that we cannot look to the world for beauty, but for who we have been created to be! This is what God cares about and this is what we should care about.

Be nice to yourself! There is enough hate and cruelty when you are out and about that when you are by yourself you need some positivity! When you look in the mirror instead of pointing out everything that you see wrong, be thankful for the beautiful eyes you have to look into that mirror and see what you see. Be thankful that you have a mirror to look into. Be thankful for every working part of your body, that it IS working. Be thankful for the things that make you uniquely you and that aren't the same and everyone else. The more thankful we are, the better perspective we have on the truth.

What to do now?
1. Find real friends that will tell you how beautiful you are 5 times as much you tell yourself that you aren't (by the way, that is how many good things you need to hear for every 1 bad thing). Find friends that will keep you accountable
2. Be healthy and dress cute if you want. Just remember those things cannot be the focus of determining whether you are beautiful or not.
3. Pray about it and talk about it with someone older than you.
4. Tell yourself the truth and remind yourself about it daily. Do whatever you need to do. Take down your mirrors, don't wear make-up for a month, put post-it notes on your binder and mirror. These are all things I have tried before and they all help.
5. Read- if you like to read. Read about true beauty (which this is not me giving you permission to pick up Vogue and Seventeen Magazine) I listed just a few books below that I love and talk about what true beauty is.
6. Get outside of yourself and remember that it isn't all about you- help someone else who is less fortunate than you, or someone that needs a friend.


Here are some great resources that I have found in the years past that have helped me find truth and answer a lot of these questions:
*THE BIBLE- always the most important place to start!
*Redefining Beautiful- Jenna Lucado
*Lies Young Women Believe- Nancy DeMoss
*More Beautiful You- Jonny Diaz
*Captivating- Stasi Eldredge

*and of course follow the Choose Beauty Link Up below and every week and join in!