The world puts a lot of weight and pressure on how ” pretty a woman looks” or if “she is beautiful she must be perfect”! Society measures beauty and attractiveness in a negative and highly sexualized way.
How sad is it that many young girls stress themselves out because they want to “feel pretty” or resemble the latest celebrity?
How sickening it is that marriages are broken, families ripped apart because something stemmed from a desire to lust at the ” beautiful image”. You see, so much emphasis is put on how a woman looks.
Sometimes I have to catch myself when I compliment my daughter. I do not want Cake to feel like she has to hear “pretty” or “beautiful” to be accepted. I pray that she will know that her beauty does not matter but that her walk and personal relationship with her Savior is ultimately the most important thing. I also pray that she will reflect on her heart and how she treats and loves others as Jesus has done for us. I do not want Cake to put all value in her physical beauty because it does not matter. I pray that she will desire to be more like Jesus(sanctification) and put less emphasis on worldly matters like physical beauty.
I’ll pause to say. Should we as women look presentable and attractive to our spouses, YES, but it should not be to gain the world’s attention. It should not be to get attention from other men.
Let’s check out some verses in the BIBLE:
Proverbs 31:30, NKJV, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised”.
1Peter 3:3-4, NKJV, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel, rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God”.
1Timothy 2:9-10, NKJV,… in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works”.
Psalm 119:37, NKJV, ” Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in Your way.
If you struggle with putting so much weight on how you look because of social media, television, an unhealthy relationship(s), or your own insecure thoughts(the evil one), be in deep prayer(consistent, fervent prayer) with the Lord.
Four ways that could help if you struggle with the above:
- Disconnect yourself from social media. If you struggle with scrolling through posts, profiles, and pictures and then feel depressed because you don’t look like the chic or dude then it might not be a healthy activity you should partake in. Also, most people post or reveal things on social media for attention and only post ” the good things”.
- Pray about the relationship(s) you are involved with. You should not be hanging around people who put you down. Remove unhealthy relationships. If the relationship does not bring you closer to Jesus Christ then it is something you need to really bring to the Lord. This could be people in your family, “close friendships”, church, or work. I use the word “evaluate” often because I truly believe we should consistently pay close attention to our choices, behaviors, and relationships and walk with the Lord.
- Stop comparing yourself. This is not only for the millionaire who had all the plastic surgery completed in the world but also for the next-door neighbor or co-worker. God made you. You are special and beautiful in all your ways. I struggled with this. I use to compare myself with all the other girls. The Lord took me to Psalm 139:14 several years ago, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. My children have this verse memorized because I want them to know that God knit them together in my womb. They are beautiful just the way they are and no one will change that! Please also check out my previous post https://bibleandcake.com/all-things-through-christ/. This verse in God’s word refers to contentment. Be content.
- LAST BUT NOT LEAST- THE MOST IMPORTANT: Fear the Lord. Pay close attention to your personal relationship with Jesus. As I posted above. Beauty does not last. It is the heart. Oh how we can look at such “pretty people” and they are so ugly inside. As a follower of Jesus, we want to clothe ourselves with the fruits of the Spirit and live a life that will bring glory to the Lord!
