What woman doesn't struggle with her appearance? I don't really know one woman who doesn't. I certainly do. I don't like what I see in the mirror. Whether that is a result from culture, the women in my life who seem to have a constant concern about their figure and appearance, or Satan's lies, my perception of myself has been poor. There have been few times in my life when I've been satisfied with what I see in the mirror. (As a caveat, I'm not a self-esteem band-wagonner. I don't desire to be delusional about how great I am. I just want a Godly and God-centered view of myself.) I know the truths of scripture. I know that God looks at the heart, I know He approves of and desires in me the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, but I'm struggle with being content with my reflection. I'm missing out on where the truth connects to living it out in this world as a woman in Christ.
I'm hoping to learn a lot from this book. To get my thinking back on track and to share a little along the way. So here goes.
From chapter one, "Worldly Beauty".
1)"Skin products promise blemish-free skin when we're young and wrinkle-free skin when we're old. We are obsessed with self-dissatisfaction."
There's no end to the improvements a woman can make to herself, at least according to the beauty industry. In fact, it's totally ridiculous to me, but a eyelash parlour just opened in League City. Even something as small as an eyelash can be and should be improved. Are we obsessed with self-dissatisfaction? Or does the beauty industry just want us to be? Because if we're always needing improvement, then we'll always be buying into and buying that next thing.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:30
God has numbered your hairs...even your eyelashes, even if they are stumpy and short, or pale and thin. They are important enough to be numbered by God.
"..the entertainment industry sends contradictory messages. While claiming to portray the average woman, it presents instead the culture's ideal of the perfect woman."
For me, I fall into the lie that beautiful people have it all together. I mean, look at them, they have beautiful hair, beautiful skin, toned bodies, trendy clothes, cute shoes. If they look like that, their lives must be in great shape also. Why can't I get it all together too?
Well, here's reality, what are these people trading for their appearances? Would I trade time with my husband? Would I trade staying at home? Would I trade teaching my children? Would I trade my small group and the time it takes to prepare for them? Would I trade my time in God's Word? Would I trade time at church? No. Those things are too valuable to me. That's just one way to think about that.
3) Who does beauty bring glory to?
"When we mold ourselves according to the world's image, we take what God has created to be a vessel of His glory and use it instead to glorify ourselves and satisfy our desire for admiration."
Can I just say "ouch" about that?
What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
So I need to ask myself, and maybe you should too, am I seeking to bring glory to myself? To be noticed? To be praised? Honestly, the answer is yes sometimes for me, to my shame. Why should I be seeking glory when the One Beautiful Creator and Savior deserves all the glory.
So that's all for now.
Holly...just wanted to let you know that on my first Sunday at Camden Bible Fellowship, I saw you sitting near me and thought you were beautiful! And as I got to know you, that thought deepened. I'm glad you are studying God's Word to find out more about our own struggle with appearance, etc., and I look forward to reading more of your posts! Love from Curacao! -Kameron
ReplyDeleteI had to LOL at the “eyelash parlor!” It is so true, though, and I, too, fall into those traps. I snap out of it quickly, because we had our years of youthful, outward appearances and then we learned that what matters is improving our relationship with God, spending time with our families and fulfilling our God-given destiny. Oh, and for the record, you are pretty! I admire the woman you are, the family you’ve raised and how you are always beaming with joy! You can cook too…that’s always a plus! LOL.
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