You best believe I've fought this expensive battle every step of the way. I've lasered. I've botoxed. I've plumped it. I've filled it. I've colored it. I haven't lifted it yet ....but I would if I could. Amen?! Nature is waging war with me. But it gets worse! I am now allergic to novacaine or any caine for that matter. Dreams shattered. No more fillers and plumps. Lifting is now a distant dream.
Why is it that when I looked really good I didn't think I did? Anyone? Why didn't I enjoy my wrinkle free skin, tight abs and firm buttocks? Why the heck did I think I was average? Dear Lord, back in the day, I was smoking hot! Okay, I've never been smoking hot. But I was pretty okay. I could hold my own in a room full of attractive women. In a preppy sort of way.
I have a theory. Just roll your eyes and hear me out. When we are young, beautiful, and youthful we are all about ourselves. Not everyone but many. We are about our homes, our marriages, our careers, our kids. We have an awesome God who is a gentleman. I think He is so gracious to sit back and let us do our thing. If I had to guess He chuckles quite a bit. Once we've accompolished the majority of check lists in our lives? We begin to have a deep longing for something more. For some of us we listen to the Holy Spirit. For others of us we ignore the burn. We just keep trying to find ways to fill the hole. More clothes, more vacations, bigger homes in better neighborhoods, fancy cars, better schools, more exercising, better bodies, more girls weekends. If that doesn't do the trick? We keep going. For many of us it takes an illness, financial setback, natural disaster, or the loss of a loved one to turn us back to Christ.
God wants all of us. Not a piece one morning a week at bible study. Not a smidgeon on Sunday morning. Nope. He adores us. He wants us to get it. To get Him? Our entire lives must be purposed towards giving Him the glory for all that we have and do. Our society already tells us everything we are not. And in some aspects society is correct because we are nothing....without Him. Society has us chasing something we can never obtain. Or if we do we are still left empty. Lord knows, this girl has tried.
Let's look at who God says we are. We know that He loves us. But what does Jesus say about our value? Our worth? God calls us to be overcomers. He wants us to know who we are in Him. God "has given us everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3).
We can do all things through Christ Jesus~Philippians 4:13
We have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding~Philippians 4:7
We are joint-heirs with Christ~Romans 8:17
We are over-comers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony~Revelation 12:11
We are part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people~1 Peter 2:9
We are called by God to be the voice of His praise~Psalm 66:8
God hasn't given us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind~ 2 Timothy 1:7
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works~Ephesians 2:10
Yada yada, Elizabeth, yeah I get it. But I'm still not as attractive as my best friend, my husbands associate, my kids coach. I think it's perspective. Have you ever known someone who is overweight and everyone loves them. They are invited to every social event. They don't meet a stranger. People adore them. We all know someone like that. Likewise did you ever have a friend in school or college who really wasn't a beauty queen? For some reason she had a date to every event. People loved her. Probably these two people knew their worth. Their beauty wasn't physical it was spiritual.
Here's what God says about our beauty:
"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."~ 1 Samuel 16:7
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."-Prov 31:30
"Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next."-1 Tim 4:8
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 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
Isn't that exciting?! Doesn't that give you encouragement? God knew we would be bewildered by the aging process. But actually getting older should mean getting wiser. Those wrinkles and lumps may show that we are "fading" on the outside. But on the inside? We should be radiant in the knowledge that we are perfectly accepted. Perfectly loved. Perfectly righteous. Perfectly full of worth. We are worthy in the eyes of the One true beholder. Jesus Christ himself. Our bridegroom. I find it incredibly wonderful that He thinks of exactly the right things to say at the right moment!
The fact remains that no amount of money or exercise can keep our youthful looks. Sigh. Less of us and more of Him. Our bridegroom wants all of us. We are perfect in His sight.
The fact remains that no amount of money or exercise can keep our youthful looks. Sigh. Less of us and more of Him. Our bridegroom wants all of us. We are perfect in His sight.
“But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’"-Matthew 25:6
