When we admire beauty apart from God, we risk making an idol of what He created. The grandeur of mountain peaks, the beauty of the human form, delicate flowers, and countless other wonders all point to the magnificence of their Creator. When we focus on the creation rather than the One who made it, we give created things a glory that belongs to God alone.
Perhaps the problem isn’t that we pursue beauty too much, but that we pursue the wrong kind of beauty. There is a beauty worth seeking that surpasses all others and never fades. C. S. Lewis captured this longing when he wrote, “The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing…to find the place where all the beauty came from.”
King David understood this desire. His greatest longing was to “behold the beauty of the Lord” (Psalm 27:4). He desired to dwell in God’s presence and discover more of His holiness, goodness, compassion, grace, and love. The more we come to know the character of God, the more we recognize that He alone is the source of all that is truly beautiful. As Song of Solomon 5:16 declares, “He is altogether lovely.”
What if we began to measure beauty by how clearly our lives reflect Jesus?
True beauty is not found in physical perfection, cultural approval, or the admiration of others. It is revealed as the character of Christ takes shape in us. When we understand our worth in Him, we no longer have to chase the world’s shifting standards or depend on others to validate us. Instead, we can embrace the unfading beauty of a life transformed by His presence.
We become women who reflect His love, embody His grace, and demonstrate His strength in a world that often defines beauty by outward appearances. Our lives can point others beyond what is temporary to the One whose beauty never fades.
But reflecting His beauty begins with knowing Him. If we want our lives to reveal who God is and who He created us to be, we must become students of His beauty. We do this by spending time in His presence, meditating on His Word, and allowing His Spirit to shape our attitudes, choices, and relationships.
Darling, you are a work of art.
You can display beauty without vanity, influence without manipulation, style without materialism, kindness without passivity, strength without competition, and dignity without compromising your worth.
You can transform the world around you through your wit, wisdom, character, and courage—all while creating beauty and embodying love.
You are not merely interesting; you are original. You are not simply good enough; you are uniquely gifted. You are not just here; you are here for a purpose.
The most beautiful thing about you will never be what the world sees on the outside, but the evidence of Jesus at work within you.
So, let your heart pursue the beauty that never fades. Let your words reflect His kindness, your choices reveal His wisdom, and your life testify to His goodness.
May your greatest desire be to know Him more deeply until, in every part of your life, your heart can sincerely declare, “Jesus, You’re beautiful to me.”
—Inspired by a reflection from Sarah Dubbeldam
