Beautiful You

Let me ask you a question. A just between you and me question.  Do you believe you are beautiful? I’m not talking about the physical appearance here. I mean that belief that you are special. That you are valuable. Important, relevant. I mean, isn’t that what we all want really? To know we are cherished by someone? That our life has significance? So let me ask you again, do you believe you are beautiful?

It is my hope to convey to you through this blog that you are! If you’ve lost hope, feel shame, have an distorted image of self, suffered neglect or abuse, feel abandoned, been through the fire, believe your scars are too hideous to ever be considered beautiful, then, dear one, please read on! Let me breathe hope into your life! I, too, have been in those desolate places and so it is with a compassionate heart I write this to you.

The reasons you believe what you do about yourself are important and I would urge you to seek wise counsel that will help you work through the process of healing because as I learned the very hard way, until healing happens, I could never fully believe the truth and be whole. Forgiveness goes a long way in the steps to healing—bear in mind, whoever wronged you may not deserve forgiveness, but this isn’t about them— forgiving is about you. Imagine each trespass you hold onto like a heavy link. Each link, every unforgiveness makes up a chain that weighs you down. Forgiveness is the sweet release of those chains. I never said this would be easy, God knows the process He took me through of forgiving was as painful as you can imagine, but it wasn’t any more painful than staying yoked to the bonds of unforgiveness! Let’s take a look at some truths to battle those nasty misconceptions we can have of ourselves!

As you are, you have value. “Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they?”(Matthew 6:26 TPT)

As you are, you are loved.  “But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy.  Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace!” (Ephesians 2:4-5 TPT)

As you are, you are important. “Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 TPT)

As you are, you are cherished. “Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me.” (Psalm 139:17-18 TPT)

As you are, you are beautiful. “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside
and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking.
It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something.” (Psalm 139:13-15 TPT)

The incredible thing about God is that He sees you as you are and says you have value and are so loved! He sees you left out and calls you cherished. He sees you hiding in shame and calls you beautiful! He sees you broken and wants to make you whole because while He loves us as we are, He loves us too much to leave us as we are! Until I understood this reality I was…ummm… well I was a mess! It’s been a while since God led me through the journey of forgiving so He could heal those hurts but I still need every single day to know I am so loved by my Creator, my Father.

See, first I had to believe God’s unfailing love for me and it wasn’t because I was good enough, or deserved it because I didn’t and I don’t, but once I understood that love is WHO God is and He cannot change His character or His mind, then I was able to step into a process of healing because I could trust Him to not only lead me through but to be with me through it too and know He would bring me out on the other side, trading my ashes for beauty.

Are you ready to trade your ashes for beauty? Begin your journey by discovering the Father’s love for you and be encouraged to know you are so loved and be filled with hope knowing God has a good plan and purpose for your life!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

You are loved and you are beautiful! Accept that and believe!

***Just so you know…if you are intimidated by scripture, no worries! There are so many “readable” translations out there now that are still true to the Word but simply put in language we can understand! I used The Passion Translation a lot here, New International Version is a favorite of mine, The Message Translation is easily read too.  I encourage you to read scripture to learn how well you are loved and explore other literature on this subject by Christian authors.