unveiling our beauty
I have been reading a lot about the heart of a woman. And the heart of a man. As if it is possible to talk about one and not about the other. Men at their core have strength. They are supposed to shield us from physical harm but also to defend us in midst of emotional and spiritual attack. The strength of a man is powerful in the life of a woman. When they are silent, passive or offer no strength, women are wounded. However, when they live out their strength, they even become more handsome, as the end result of an inner reality.
Beauty is an essence that dwells in every woman. God gifted us with beauty. This is one of the most glorious ways in which we bear the image of God. This does not mean that a woman has to have the perfect figure to unveil her beauty. This has nothing to do with having a perfect figure. Women at their core have asoulish beauty.
However, there are things that stand in the way of our beauty. Doubts and fears, little lies from the enemy our souls, anxieties, hurts and past experiences. The hiding and striving that we fall to as a result. In I Peter 3:3-4 we are assured that
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
There is a powerful word for each one of us here. For years, Ihave focused in the first part of this verse: be modest, dress appropriately, and rest assured sister: your beauty will be unveiled by your modesty. But the second part of this Bible verse has completely changed my perspective: beauty is not something that we can conjure. Beauty indwells in us. The choice of a woman rests in either conjure beauty or let our defenses down to let the real beauty show up. Beauty flows from a heart at rest. Beauty does not flow from a perfect figure, from having my life figured it out, but from a gentle and quiet spirit. True beauty comes from the inner part of us. A heart at rest. A heart that trusts in God as Father, Lover, Friend, Sweet Companion. A heart that trusts God's words about who we are and who we are created to be, and not in someone else's words about us - even tough it is sweet to get those words from those we love. In our inner being, where God dwells, we know that he finds us beautiful and tells us we are enough. When our heart is at rest, we do not listen to the lies spoken at us by the enemy of our souls, there is no space for anxieties, we do not have the time to strive so hard to become beautiful, worthy or enough. To have a gentle and quiet spirit is to have a heart of faith and a spirit that has been quieted by God's love and peace. Not a heart that is striving. And I love the beautiful promise found in Zephaniah 3:17, He will quiet you with his love. His love is enough to quiet our spirits.
In the same way that a lot stands in the way of a woman's beauty, a lot also stands in the way of a man's strength. The implications of the fall are true for every single man. Man is cursed with passivity and failure. Men are afraid to offer their strength in situations where they don't know if that will make a difference. Or worse than that, that they will fail.
Now, a woman at rest eludes a sense of calm, a sense of rest, and invites those around her to rest as well. A woman of true beauty invites others to be and to become. Walking alongside her, allows others to develop their inner being, to grow in the likeness of God, either in beauty or in strength. A woman at rest makes herself vulnerable and available for intimacy. As women, we are able to help men in the pursuit of their original strength. The unveiling of our beauty, the unveiling of our heart invites others to life and to take risks - just because our hearts are at rest, in God's presence. That doesn't mean that our hearts won't be at risk too, but at least, we know who to run to if hurt.
Beauty is an essence that dwells in every woman. God gifted us with beauty. This is one of the most glorious ways in which we bear the image of God. This does not mean that a woman has to have the perfect figure to unveil her beauty. This has nothing to do with having a perfect figure. Women at their core have a
However, there are things that stand in the way of our beauty. Doubts and fears, little lies from the enemy our souls, anxieties, hurts and past experiences. The hiding and striving that we fall to as a result. In I Peter 3:3-4 we are assured that
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
There is a powerful word for each one of us here. For years, I
In the same way that a lot stands in the way of a woman's beauty, a lot also stands in the way of a man's strength. The implications of the fall are true for every single man. Man is cursed with passivity and failure. Men are afraid to offer their strength in situations where they don't know if that will make a difference. Or worse than that, that they will fail.
Now, a woman at rest eludes a sense of calm, a sense of rest, and invites those around her to rest as well. A woman of true beauty invites others to be and to become. Walking alongside her, allows others to develop their inner being, to grow in the likeness of God, either in beauty or in strength. A woman at rest makes herself vulnerable and available for intimacy. As women, we are able to help men in the pursuit of their original strength. The unveiling of our beauty, the unveiling of our heart invites others to life and to take risks - just because our hearts are at rest, in God's presence. That doesn't mean that our hearts won't be at risk too, but at least, we know who to run to if hurt.
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.
Isaiah 30:15
“A woman's heart should be so close to God that a man should have to chase Him to find her.” CS Lewis
ReplyDeleteYour words are beautiful Rebeca.