Have you ever noticed how many fairy-tale heroines suffer degradation or persecution of some kind? For example, Cinderella scrubbed floors for years, spending what little leisure time she had sitting in the ashes as her evil step-sisters and stepmother abused her and made fun of her. Snow White was cast out of her own kingdom when her stepmother— beautiful, but jealous and cruel—heard from her mirror that Snow White was the most beautiful in the kingdom. But always, in time, these beautiful, kind heroines find a handsome prince, and magically live happily ever after.
These stories have been passed from generation-to-generation over centuries. If nothing else, the stories clearly indicate that the expected connection between beauty and happiness isn’t new. In these stories of illusion, imagination and magic, the most beautiful girls are always pleasing and good, and always find their handsome prince. The homely or awkward girls are inevitably mean and come to some sort of destruction.
Outward appearances often truly reflect what’s inside. Those who are confident carry themselves in a way that invites success and acceptance, while those who lack confidence or dislike themselves draw back, acting in ways that invite rejection.
It’s important to consider the questions: is what is on the inside there because society inevitably reacts to beautiful people in a way that inspires them to goodness? do we treat less beautiful people in a way that pushes them toward evil?
It is certainly easier to respond in a favorable way to a preteen boy who says, “Yes ma’am” than one who spits on your new car. But which one needs the encouragement the most? It’s much more enjoyable to dress a teenaged girl with an attractive face and figure than one who has pimples and a lumpy physique, but who needs the pretty dress the most?
Our attraction to beauty is built into both men and women by our Creator who loves beauty. Enjoying flowers, sunsets and sunrises convinces us of God’s love for beauty. There are many references to beauty in Scripture, so we know that the pursuit and cultivation of beauty is not in itself an evil thing. But we’ve all experienced the pain of allowing a good thing to become a wrong priority in our lives, so that it becomes terribly destructive. If we choose beauty as a top priority, trying to be “beautiful enough” to be accepted by others will quickly take control of every choice we make.
1 Peter 3:3-4 Peter helps us achieve a balance in our love for beauty by describing true beauty: “Let not your beauty be merely the external adorning with elaborate interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; but let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is not anxious or wrought up, but is very precious in the sight of God.”
God deeply loves and desires beauty in all of His creation, so He places His own beauty inside of each one who says “yes” to Him!
Zechariah 9:16-17 (HCSB): “The Lord their God will save them (His people) on that day…for they are like jewels in a crown, sparkling over His land. How lovely and beautiful they will be!”
Infinite Grace Ministries offers Biblical teaching about acceptance of ourselves in Christ.
Through one-on-one Biblical Guidance, we can each learn to appreciate who we are even as we grow and make the changes necessary to experience spiritual growth and increasing freedom from the control of fear. Do you know someone who needs help with body image or fear? Call 580-774-2884 for a personal appointment today!
