let me let you peek into my life – i turn into a two-year-old sometimes when i stare at my closet & weep over having “nothing to wear” (it is embarrassing. ask my husband). i gaze into every mirror looking at the imperfections on my face. i compare myself to other bodies. i debate on wearing tank tops because i don’t like my back. i wish i had blonde hair. i really want to lose some weight. and overall, i feel like i battle with beauty everyday.
i battle with beauty NOT because it is something that i long for and cannot attain BUT because it is something that i already posses, i just cannot see.
believe it or not there is an enemy in this world. it is not men. it is not the media. it is not high fashion. it is Satan. and he hates beauty. he was once one of the most beautiful and wise angels but his heart became proud because of his beauty and he corrupted his wisdom for the sake of his splendor (Ezekiel 28:17). then God created women. the beautiful creation was not complete without her. she was the jewel and the crown. Satan hated that she was the most beautiful of the creation so he lied to her. and we all know the story of Adam & Eve.
Satan hates us too and his goal is to lie to us. he is like a roaring lion who desires to steal, kill, and destroy (john 10:10). his goal is to tear away our beauty. to disconnect you from your Creator who knit you together in your mother’s womb. who tells you “you are fearfully and wonderful made” (Psalm 139). he doesn’t want you to hear the song of your Savior (zephaniah 3:17) or hear His sweet voice telling you that He is so in love with you (isaiah 43:4). Satan lost his inner beauty to pride but his outside still looks so good – he can still deceive and be so cunning.
let’s stand up to him together. we are on the winning side. the God who created us is the one who is victorious. we need to be aware that Satan is whispering those lies in our ears but we can fight them with truth. it is not easy, i fail every day. but it is hopeful. and it does get better. the more we dig into our creator the more open our eyes become to the Truth.
beauty is being created in His image. beauty is finding joy. beauty is in kindness of heart. beauty is something within that glows brighter than the darkness.
and the Truth is – you are beautiful!
Love this. Wonderful insight. Thank you for sharing.
i just love you, best friend.
"i battle with beauty NOT because it is something that i long for and cannot attain BUT because it is something that i already posses, i just cannot see."
gosh, so good and so true. thank you for your beautiful words, for the reminders in scripture, and for being honest. we are made in the image of God and THAT is beautiful. i love you!
Beth,
Thanks for always being real and honest on your blog! I definitely struggle with the same closet weeping/not having anything to wear/not feeling pretty feeling from time to time. Praying you will also continue to speak truth and remember that you are beautiful and fight off Satan's lies.
Allison
http://agodfashionedlife.com
I really love this post – society makes beauty SUCH a huge thing, and it's always good to look at what God finds beautiful, what we should be striving for. Thanks for this reminder 🙂
This post is wonderful. I think it's such a horrible thing that our society convinces each and every one of us that we're not beautiful enough. I pray that will change.
This post is just so- well- beautiful! And true. I actually never thought about beauty in terms of spiritual warfare, but you are so right. Also, isn't it funny that women are more critical of other women than men are? The enemy will do anything to destroy our relationships with others. I know I've been victim to this, too!
I love this post! Such encouragement!
http://weneedgethsemani.blogspot.com/
I never thought about Satan's motivation for attacking women's perception of their beauty. I definitely think your right saying his being once the most beautiful motivates him. Very interesting to think about. Although- I don't know that I think he lost his beauty. I think his beauty is now a huge part of what makes him cunning… But why I think that is a story for another day 🙂
I never thought about Satan's motivation for attacking women's perception of their beauty. I definitely think your right saying his being once the most beautiful motivates him. Very interesting to think about. Although- I don't know that I think he lost his beauty. I think his beauty is now a huge part of what makes him cunning… But why I think that is a story for another day 🙂
Love this post and your perspective on beauty. Thanks for being an encouragement to those of us out here who are struggling with the same things! Blessings, friend!