True Beauty
By Jen Wollner
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment…Instead, 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.”
1 Peter 3:3-4
A couple of years ago, I was traveling and found myself on a hotel shuttle with a group of twenty-something young men. I couldn’t help but overhear their conversation as we rode to our destination. They were talking about their plans for the evening and that they were going to meet up with their female friends later. I ascertained from the conversation that these ladies had frustrated the men because they were taking too long primping for their night out, so the guys left without them. One of the men summed up all of their feelings perfectly by saying, “They spend so much time getting ready…and they come out looking the same!”By Jen Wollner
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment…Instead, 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.”
1 Peter 3:3-4
I’ll be honest, this statement rubbed me the wrong way at first. Personally, I think I look a lot different after a shower, styling products and make-up, than I do when I first wake up in the morning. This young man obviously has no appreciation for what we go through, I thought. But, what if he was right? Women, in general, often spend a significant amount of time on their outward appearance—clothes, hair, make-up—all of which, as evidenced by his comment, doesn’t make much difference in how others perceive our beauty. But, why is that? If we work so hard, why do we still look basically the same?
And then it hit me…maybe it really is what’s on the inside that matters most. Maybe our heart plays a bigger role in our outer appearance than we realize. We can cover up physical imperfections with clothes or cosmetics, but the true condition of our heart shines through. If we are downcast or negative on the inside, it will usually show on our face, in our body language or through our words. But, if we have joy in our hearts, that’s what others see on the outside, too. Whatever is going on inside comes out in our words, actions and attitudes.
There’s only one effective way to alter our hearts and, consequently, our outward beauty: Jesus. Spending time with Him can dramatically change the way we look to those around us. Wouldn’t it be encouraging if we literally looked and acted differently after each time we are with Him? Every time we read His Word or converse with Him in prayer, our hearts should look a little more like His…and the reflection on the outside will be truly beautiful.
GOING DEEPER:
1. How much time do you spend on your outward appearance versus your heart?2. Are you making time regularly for God? How do you look different because of your time together?
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 105:3; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 31:30
Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children between the ages of eight and four. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.
