Belinda Elliott

The morning was a train wreck—at least in terms of fashion. I woke up early, even before my alarm. Off to a great start, right? Maybe I would even have time to grab breakfast on the way to work!

That’s when it happened. It was time to decide what to wear. Why do I never take time to figure this out the night before?

I tried on no less than eight outfits.

Does this scarf look okay with this shirt? Maybe I should just wear a necklace instead.

Does this necklace work? On second thought, maybe the pants are the problem.

I hate these pants! They look like pants my grandmother would wear. How did these ugly things get in my closet?

I live out this scene on more mornings than I care to admit. What is it about a mirror that makes me obsess over my outfits? Sometimes as I stand there, I hear the Lord whisper to my heart, “Are you this concerned with your inner beauty as well? Are you striving to look like Me in your attitudes and actions each day?”

I have to confess that often I am not. Perhaps that’s why I have this closet conundrum so frequently.

Finally, I settled on an outfit—mostly because I was out of time, not because I was happy with the look. On my way out, I stopped by the bed, as I always do, and quietly whispered to my sleeping husband, “Bye. I love you” I kissed him on the cheek. He replied as he usually does, a very groggy “Love you.” Then, he added a sleepily slurred comment, “You’re beautiful.”

This isn’t unusual, but today it stopped me in my tracks. His perfectly timed comment was just what I needed to hear.

In his sleep-induced stupor, I doubt that he really knew what he was saying. He goes to work much later than I do so he sleeps several more hours after I leave. As I exit in the mornings, we often have conversations he never remembers.

Chances are he didn’t even notice what I was wearing. He was oblivious to the frenzied fashion nightmare taking place around him or the clothing castoffs lying scattered beside him on my side of the bed. He just knows me, the real me—who I am under the hair products and the makeup. And he thinks I’m (gasp!) beautiful? What a comforting thought!

Why do we do this, ladies? Why obsess about our appearance?

Perhaps, in our quest to feel beautiful, we need to spend more time looking at God’s Word and less time looking in our closets. I know that’s been the case for me lately. When we look in God’s Word, He makes clear His thoughts about us. He says we are beautiful.

The Bible is full of God’s descriptions of us and His promises to us, if we would only accept them. Regardless of the roles we hold as moms, wives, friends, or employees, if we have a relationship with Christ, we are first and foremost children of God, daughters of the King. He takes great delight in us.

Take a moment to let these descriptions sink in. (I added the bold for emphasis.) Where you see the word “I” or the lowercase word “you,” try inserting your name as you read it.

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:13-14

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

When God looks at us, He doesn’t concern himself with out outward appearance. Nor does He dwell on our past failures or our insecurities. He sees the beauty and potential that He created in us.

The next time you find yourself at war with your mirror, turn to God’s Word and reflect what He says about you. You are loved more than you can imagine. And because you are created in His image, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!