I was raised to think that having a low self esteem was godly. It was vain to look in a mirror, and far worse to accept a compliment without rebuttal. Now I know better. Now I know that what God wants most is for our self esteem to come from Him! How do we do this?
It is easy to get trapped by the exterior and forget the interior. The inner you is who God designed to be authentic. The outer you is the shell. It has been said that “we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience.” And it is true. While the many changes that we make to our exterior may boost our job or personal moral, the changes to the inner person are what matters to God. Are you seeking God first? Are you in His Word daily with a deep desire to be changed into His likeness? Do you thank God every day for all the wonderful things that God has made you to be and enjoy?
God wants women to be delighted with the wonderful and unique way he has created us. He wants us to look our best, feel our best and dress our best. When we are known for excellence, when we shine then we can reflect to all the One who made us shine. I believe it is our duty to do all we can to make our selves a light that cannot be hidden. A light that shines in unashamed beauty, purpose and wisdom for Him.
However, the world sings a different tune about true beauty and its purpose. In the world of plastic surgery, cosmetics, colored hair, diet miracles and body sculpting workouts the word “authenticity” seems to have little to do with the way God made us. Today, the new definition means “to reinvent yourself”. To change the old you for something new. As the movie Robots put it, “Why be you, when you can be new?” The reason? So that everyone will think you are the best (ambition, greed) and so that you can get the man of your dreams. But isn’t that just ambition, greed, lust, conquest, and pride?
Where does the truth lie? Is it our appearance that defines us? Can a person die her hair, wear lovely clothes, get a breast job a face lift, a tummy tuck or dental work, and still love the Lord and please him in every way? Is plastic surgery a sin? Is the enhancement of our outward beauty a sure sign of wrong priorities? The traditional church has long mistaken outward finesse for spiritual superficiality or lack. It has focused on the verses that compare the outward to the inward. Obviously God values our inward beauty most. But, does he disapprove of those who use the outward gift of physical beauty or enhance it for His glory?
In the book of Esther, the soon to be queen, received beauty treatments for a year and still went on to be serve the Lord in a way that has brought historical and even secular acclaim. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was a woman of incredible beauty, yet she was praised by God as a woman and wife who honored God and her husband. The Proverbs 31 eulogy of the ideal Christian woman speaks of a hard working woman who is well dressed and handles her money well. Did these women have face lifts? We don’t know. What we do know is that their actions, their hearts were the focus of God. They found their identities and self esteem from God. And He was pleased with them.
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Whether you have had tattoes, a change of hair color, plastic surgery, or just love to wear sharp clothes, God is far more interested in you than your shell. He wants you to find your self esteem in Him, and enjoy all that He has put in this world to make you be your best. Use what God has given you to bring Him glory. Never forget who you are in Christ!
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