What is beauty?
The answer depends on who you ask. TV advertisers might hang a beauty sign on a particular height, size, color of eyes or skin or hair. Others might say beauty has more to do with a girl’s character qualities. Anger, jealousy, lying — I think we can agree that those aren’t beautiful traits, but compassion, love, and honesty are.
When I was invited to participate in this devotional, the title — The Beauty of Believing — captured my attention. The phrase made me consider my definition of beauty, to think about how what you and I believe creates true beauty.
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3 – 4).
Scripture isn’t telling us to refrain from wearing bracelets, toe rings, and bangles. Those can be fun expressions of who you and I are as a person, but those outward adornments aren’t a true expression of beauty. A gentle and quiet spirit is born of a confidence in God’s unfailing love for us. Placing our faith in God brings peace, even during exams, in the middle of a stormy relationship, or when we’re bent at a graveside.
I pray for you to have the beauty of believing that God cares for you, that you can call his name — Jesus — and he’ll be there with you. Always. Your God. That’s beautiful!
— Mona Hodgson