A Heart Condition: Balancing Inner Beauty and Outward Appearance
In this age of social media, we are bombarded with images of outward beauty every day, reminding us of the importance of physical appearance. With every scroll, we see perfect bodies, clear skin, and polished looks that can leave us feeling inferior and insecure. It can be a struggle to maintain a healthy relationship with our appearance, but it’s important to remember that outward beauty is not wrong.
Our God is a beautiful creator who designed beauty for us to behold and admire. Beauty points us to Him and draws us closer to Him. However, in the Christian walk, it is the heart that matters. Our outward appearance should convey where our hope is rooted and established – in Jesus and His good work on our behalf. Peter and Paul provide helpful instructions in the New Testament that emphasize the importance of inner beauty over superficial appearances.
As believers in Christ, we must ask ourselves – does our outward appearance reflect where our hope lies? Are we clamoring to look a certain way to prove our worth to others? Or are we resting in God, our maker, and fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith? We were designed to direct our focus to Jesus and not on ourselves, our bodies, or our outward appearance.
It can be challenging to find a balance between feeling confident in our appearance and focusing on inner beauty. However, we can take practical steps to prioritize inner beauty while still taking care of our physical bodies. One practical step is to cultivate a regular routine of self-care that honors our bodies. Another is to spend time in prayer and meditation, seeking God’s guidance in our perception of beauty and how we present ourselves to the world.
In this age of self-promotion and self-worth tied to appearance, it’s vital to remember that our worth comes from God and not from the opinions of others. We do not need to live up to the expectations of society or conform to superficial standards of beauty. Instead, we can rest in the assurance that we are made in the image of God and that our value lies in Him.
In conclusion, outward beauty is not wrong, but it’s essential to prioritize inner beauty. As believers, we need to ensure that our outward appearance reflects where our hope lies – in Jesus and His good work on our behalf. We were designed to fix our eyes on Jesus and not on ourselves, our bodies, or our outward appearance. By focusing on inner beauty and resting in God, we can cultivate a healthy relationship with our appearance and honor God’s design for our lives.
