This is something I have been trying to figure out this whole race. My whole life I have never really truly felt beautiful and comfortable with the woman that God created me to be. I had been looking through a foggy lense and wasn't seeing myself through God's eyes. It has been so hard to break something that I have struggled with my whole life. Over the first 6 months of the race God was teaching me how to step into my identity in Him by being bold, confident and strong in times I didn't know I had it in me. Then month 7 came along where my new team of all woman were placed at this beautiful place that felt like paradise. Jesus was everywhere! He led every step that we took and I saw Him move in ways that I never could be possible. I have to say that my faith and trust in Him grew so much that month. I also became so comfortable with just being me and it was such a good feeling. I never felt more free than I did that month in Malawi. I have learned that God is greater than any struggle I have and He will carry me through it.
Honestly IT DOESN’T MATTER! What I look like or what my hair looks like, what my clothes look like, none of it matters! God only cares about my inner beauty and I would so much rather work on my heart than my appearance. A woman who fears the Lord has everything to gain, the kingdom! I want so badly for every woman to know how Beautiful she is and that our God who is sovereign created each and every one of us differently and uniquely for a reason. He is a creative God and He knew what He was doing, it’s impossible for Him to make mistakes, so how can we believe that God’s creation made from his own image isn’t beautiful? God wants us to see ourselves through His eyes and wants us to open our hearts to receive His unconditional love.
I heard something that really stuck with me and made me think…”Perception brings power”. How we view ourselves in Christ makes all the difference in what you have to offer others. Yeah its been really tough these past months, but how else would we grow? It’s the hard times that God uses to change our hearts. When I started writing this blog I had no idea where it was going to go, but now I see there is a reason God led me here. There are so many women that think how we look or the clothes we wear define who we are(I being one of them) and that we need them to be beautiful. Well, this is nothing but a lie from Satan! I want so much for every woman to see that this is how the world views true beauty, not how our amazing living God see’s true beauty. One of my favorite verses in proverbs 31 says, “Charm is deceitful, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” This verse is so encouraging to me because it very clearly states that our appearance means nothing! These words are breathed out by God in His living word, therefore they must be true. The word of God only brings life, therefore these words are to bring life and encouragement to us! If we become consumed with how we appear to others then we are only hurting ourselves and aren’t really experiencing true freedom that christ desires for us, the freedom to be the beautiful woman that God created you to be. Stand confident in the woman you are and be thankful because you are beautiful:)
