Beauty Deeper Than Skin
March 12, 2010 by kristinemac
Filed under Life Stuff
Throughout my life I have struggled with the idea of beauty as seen by the eye of the beholder.
You see, I've never thought of myself as particularly beautiful, per se. In fact, I can remember more than once being told that I was ugly, especially in those formative years when a girls sense of value is fragile at best. Even now, as a forty-five year old woman, when my husband tells me I'm beautiful or refers to me as "his beautiful wife" when speaking to others…that little girl deep inside doesn't quite believe him. After all, I have so many "outward flaws" and human beings tend to judge one another based on what someone else has determined is beautiful. As a Christian I'm constantly having to remind myself to see not only others but myself through a different lens.
Worldly worth is so often placed on appearance, style, fashionable dress but this is beauty that is found in surface only. The view of other people informing our personal sense of "muchness". Beauty, as defined by God, is so very much more than what you see on the surface.
So this begs the question what is true beauty and where is it found?
I think if you look closely maybe you'll find beauty here:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)
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Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter3:3-4 (NLT)
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How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation,the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)
God made each one of us for a reason and in Him there is always beauty. We truly shouldn't care how the world defines beauty because ultimately it's Jesus being reflected through our daily actions and words which defines beauty and its effect within us. After all, shouldn't the opinion of the Grand Designer be taken as the final opinion on what's truly beautiful? Shouldn't beauty be found deeper than skin level?
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This blog was written as part of a challenge given by Sarah Markley. Go check out her site and add your own thoughts to the discussion.
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Hi Kristine!
I really enjoyed your post. I'm almost 40 and have struggled with that 'plain' feeling where looks are concerned. I'm starting to get more comfortable in my own skin but it's been a long road. Thanks for showing us beauty in other places as well.
I found you via Sarah's links today.
Have a great week!
Mary
I’m so glad you found my blog Mary and that you enjoyed the post. I agree, it can be difficult as we get older to become comfortable with the changes taking place but there is so much beauty in the wisdom life brings as well! There are things I can stop and appreciate now so much more than when I was younger and find value in the ordinary. Thank you for your comment and I hope you’ll stop by again!
i so agree. i think that beauty can be found everywhere. and its so hard to live in a world where beauty determines worth.
hmmm.
thank you for posting this, kristine. =)
Thank you, Sarah, for the writing challenge. The topic is a good one and deserves consideration.
I, too, found your post through Sarah's site. I can so relate to what you said about your husband complementing you and not quite believing him. This is kind of awkward to share but my husband says things to me about being hot and sexy and calls me his smokin' hot wife and things like that actually pretty frequently but do I believe him? No. Because when I look in the mirror that is most definitely NOT what I see! haha! It's so much easier to believe the negative things about yourself than the positive isn't it! It's definitely something I need to work on in myself.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
Yes it certainly is easier to believe the negative over the positive! This is why we need to see ourselves as God sees us so we can appreciate who we are created to be (and say thank you when our husbands call us "smokin' hot!). I'm glad you stopped by and read the blog. I hope you'll come back again soon.
I too found you through Sarah's blog… It's nice to meet you.
I didn't write my post on beauty until after Sarah's deadline… I've written about the beauty of stillness on my blog. I'd love to have you visit if you like.
I am 52 years old, married 27 years and my husband's words still struggle to find a place in my heart.. especially now that I'm heavier than I've ever been… and my hair is turning more gray. It's hard to believe sometimes, isn't it? Yet, slowly but surely I am relearning what beauty really is…
Yes I understand what you mean and some times it is hard to believe. I'm glad you found me and I look forward to reading your blog! I hope you'll come and visit me again soon.
I agree… our worthy and beauty need to be found in the LORD.
It is a battle that we face, as the world gives us many opportunities to revert back to our habits, of letting the world determine our beauty.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read
Let’s hope we can all remember that our beauty is found in God above every other consideration.
Kristine, Do you have a way to follow or subscribe to your blog? Thank you for visiting my blog and your sweet comments. You blessed me!
Hi Julie! I loved your blog and I’m so glad you found your way to mine. To subscribe: there is a column on the right side of the blog. The first box says “Enews and Updates”. You enter your email and that will subscribe you through Feed Burner. I love comments so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on future blogs
It's amazing, and unfortunate, that insecurity seems to be a universal trait among women. I think every woman has at some point (if not every time) when her physical beauty is complimented, dismissed it in some way. It seems we all strive for some unattainable standard. It's a good thing we've already met God's standards! I'm Colleen, by the way. Another participant in Sarah's challenge.
What a beautiful reminder! Thanks so much Kristine!
Thank you Traci, I'm glad you stopped by and enjoyed the blog.
Hi Colleen! I'm so glad you found me. I've really been enjoying the blogs I've read so far from Sarah's challenge. I agree with you. It is amazing and saddening this tendency we as women have to either dismiss or disbelieve any kind of compliment. Thank God we can learn to find our true beauty in the heart of our Father!
Exactly… God's opinion is the ONLY one that matters! Beautiful post! I used the same Peter verse… I love that one so much! I am here from the beauty links list on Sarah's blog.
~Jennifer
Thank you! It took me a long time to come to understand that truth. The last picture on my blog is taken from a trip my husband and I took with a group of teens from a church last summer after having spent an hour delivering food and supplies to a homeless village. I tell you I've never seen such beauty as I did in the faces of the men and women we served that day.
Kristine,
my heart resonates with your story, not just of finding beauty, but of the involvement with the occult. I was Wiccan for 13 years before coming to know Christ. Thank you for sharing your journey…I know the path is not always easy.
Thank you! Yes, the journey can be long and difficult but thankfully our Lord walks through each day with us. I’m so glad you found your way to Him as well and so appreciate your encouragement.
I came over from Sarah's blog, like many of the other ladies here…if you're interested, my post is
http://onegirl-itjusttakesone.blogspot.com/2010/0...
I really like how you tied in each picture with a verse…very creative!
Thank you! The first two pictures were actually taken last year while on a mission trip and the third while chaperoning at a youth conference. God shows us beauty in so many interesting ways doesn't He? I look foward to visiting your blog!
You are so right… beauty is more than just a pretty face!! Thanks for sharing this… it really hit home!
Thank you so much! I'm glad you were blessed by it.
Hi-I saw ur blog via Sarah's. I love it! As a fashion student, I understand how people can judge based on appearances, and I know how important it is for us to be seen with the Glory of God. You right worldly worth is sometimes not worth very much. I loved your blog-very nice. I followed.
If you get the chance, pass by my blog and follow:)
Blessings,
Reyna
http://www.reynalay.blogspot.com/
Thank you Reyna! It is easy to judge based on appearance and the sad thing is that nowadays even the images we're shown are so enhanced that the original person is virtually lost in the "photoshopping".
Found you from Sarah Markley. Thank you for bringing us back to what Scripture says about beauty. I needed that truth tonight.
Thank you. I’m so glad you found my blog and that it was meaningful to you. Have a blessed day!