Beauty. Noun. Defined as “a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.” Many people use the popular saying “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” when talking about things that may be considered ‘ugly’ to some.
Mirror. Noun. Defined as “a reflective surface, now typically of glass coated with a metal amalgam, that reflects a clear image.” So many people hate this item. Why? Because it shows their insecurities to them. It shows them what a person said one time were “too crooked teeth” and “acne that has really taken over”. To constantly be said over and over and over in their head the next time they look in the mirror. Or said to one, “too thick thighs” and “too yellow teeth”. To brush their teeth obsessively and work out even more than before.
Mirrors. Mirrors are always tricky. They don’t always show you what you want to see, the beautiful person you want to look like but the actual, real human. What I want to see in mine: a face that’s acne free, hair that isn’t everywhere and curling in odd places, eyelashes that curl just right, a flat stomach, and legs that aren’t too thick. What I usually see: pimples scattered about, hair that is straight in the very front but curling in odd places everywhere else, eyelashes that are blonde and non-existent, a flabby stomach, and legs that could use some work.
But none of that matters to God. God sees a wonderful work that he made special in all the right ways. He sees the cowlicks in my hair that I got from my father and thinks they’re cute. He looks past the pimples to see who I am. He sees me and thinks that I am wonderfully and beautifully made; just the way He made me.
Two eyes, two ears, a mouth and nose. Each person is made up the same way. The only thing different are the way each looks.
Two eyes, brown but too muddy brown. No, He says, Honey brown.
A nose that’s just a little too wide. No, He says, Perfectly made just for you.
A mouth with a crooked and yellowed set of teeth inside. No. A perfect set of teeth for your wonderful smile that will deliver the Word to so many people.
God whispers the truths to each of our insecurities, where mirrors scream out the lies to cover what He says. So, for the next 40 days, I am blocking out the mirrors screams and settling in the Truth of my Father. I am putting paper on my mirrors and instead of listening to their lies I am covering them with Truths from the Bible. During this Vanity Fast, I am praying that God will show me that I am more than what I see and I am also asking for your prayers.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
God’s got this, and He’s got me. Whatever happens during this, I’ll see y’all on the other side.
