November 11, 2008 IOW In Other Words Tuesday
“To possess true beauty, we must be willing to suffer…if Christ Himself was perfected through His sufferings, why would I believe that God would not do the same with me? Women who are stunningly beautiful are women who have had their hearts enlarged by suffering.” Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul” by John and Stasi Eldredge.
The cosmetic industry now-a-days is loaded with promises of “true” everlasting beauty. Use this product, use that, is the sales pitch used on us. Everywhere you turn the secret of true beauty is being told as if it was no longer a secret anymore. The catch of course being you have to buy “their” product to get it.
Imagine finding a bottle on the shelf at your local Wal Mart store that says, “Sufferin’ guaranteed true beauty or your money back. Take two pills twice daily for the rest of your life.” I don’t think the Walton’s or anyone else would get rich off of it. The definition of true beauty is so different for many people that you would think it would be hard to get people to try any beauty product. However, it seems like some people are so strong in their pursuit they will try anything.
Well anything but suffering. The idea of suffering doesn’t appeal to very many people. I’m probably safe to say it doesn’t appeal to anyone. The path of our choice would be to find a way to get from square one to the end without suffering. When my grandkids came along I prayed they wouldn’t have to go through a lot of suffering in life. Shortly after praying that God talked to my heart and made me realize what a selfish prayer it was.
Selfish in the aspect that its through our suffering, those times in the belly of the whale, the fiery furnace, the desert that we get our true beauty. As Peter put it in 1 Peter 3:4 The incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is very precious in the sight of God.
Our prayers for each other need to be ones of preparation for the beauty treatments ahead. That we will allow whatever is applied to take hold. Such as the perm we paid for, or the nail polish just applied. Things that need to set or dry before we can go on. The beauty brought out in our sufferings is no different.
If we think it’s worth the smell of the perm or nail polish on something that will last a week or two or perhaps 6 months at the most then why not something that will last for all eternity. Why turn up our noses at the thought of suffering when it’s something that can enhance our beauty within if we allow it.
As with Jonah, it wasn’t what was going on in the belly of the whale that was as important as what was going on in his heart. We don’t need to go looking for beauty treatments, they will come to us. It’s up to us to be prepared by filling our hearts with Christ, his strength, his encouragement, his design for what creates the picture of true beauty. A picture not even the best of artists could ever capture embedded in the body of our hearts, stored in the vaults of Heaven awaiting more.
“To possess true beauty, we must be willing to suffer…if Christ Himself was perfected through His sufferings, why would I believe that God would not do the same with me? Women who are stunningly beautiful are women who have had their hearts enlarged by suffering.” Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul” by John and Stasi Eldredge.
The cosmetic industry now-a-days is loaded with promises of “true” everlasting beauty. Use this product, use that, is the sales pitch used on us. Everywhere you turn the secret of true beauty is being told as if it was no longer a secret anymore. The catch of course being you have to buy “their” product to get it.
Imagine finding a bottle on the shelf at your local Wal Mart store that says, “Sufferin’ guaranteed true beauty or your money back. Take two pills twice daily for the rest of your life.” I don’t think the Walton’s or anyone else would get rich off of it. The definition of true beauty is so different for many people that you would think it would be hard to get people to try any beauty product. However, it seems like some people are so strong in their pursuit they will try anything.
Well anything but suffering. The idea of suffering doesn’t appeal to very many people. I’m probably safe to say it doesn’t appeal to anyone. The path of our choice would be to find a way to get from square one to the end without suffering. When my grandkids came along I prayed they wouldn’t have to go through a lot of suffering in life. Shortly after praying that God talked to my heart and made me realize what a selfish prayer it was.
Selfish in the aspect that its through our suffering, those times in the belly of the whale, the fiery furnace, the desert that we get our true beauty. As Peter put it in 1 Peter 3:4 The incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is very precious in the sight of God.
Our prayers for each other need to be ones of preparation for the beauty treatments ahead. That we will allow whatever is applied to take hold. Such as the perm we paid for, or the nail polish just applied. Things that need to set or dry before we can go on. The beauty brought out in our sufferings is no different.
If we think it’s worth the smell of the perm or nail polish on something that will last a week or two or perhaps 6 months at the most then why not something that will last for all eternity. Why turn up our noses at the thought of suffering when it’s something that can enhance our beauty within if we allow it.
As with Jonah, it wasn’t what was going on in the belly of the whale that was as important as what was going on in his heart. We don’t need to go looking for beauty treatments, they will come to us. It’s up to us to be prepared by filling our hearts with Christ, his strength, his encouragement, his design for what creates the picture of true beauty. A picture not even the best of artists could ever capture embedded in the body of our hearts, stored in the vaults of Heaven awaiting more.
Copyright 2008 Karen J. Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes Publishing
5 comments:
I sell AVON and train young women who sell the MARK line... I have to totally agree with the "strong pursuit." Some women -- and sadly it's often the young ones -- have nothing else on their mind but physical beauty! And "beauty" is the last word I'd use to describe them. I have caught myself wishing (praying) something hinders them along the way to get thier priorities straight.
. . . Your reminder of how we pray for health and ease for our children and grandchildren is well taken. Yes, we should pray, but NEVER (ever!) turn on back on God when suffering does come. We'd be refusing the gift of TRUE BEAUTY!
Happy IOW Tuesday!
~ esthermay
Great post! We must begin to define beauty the way Christ does in order to embrace the way to beauty. Thanks for sharing.
Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing. I never thought of beauty coming to us. But it is so true. I definitely did not go looking for the fire. May the Lord continue to beautify me. Thanks for your encouraging words on my blog! Have a great day!
nicely said...
Great post! I loved your take on this quote. It's so true. Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder, and He truly refines us into the image of beauty He desires us to be.
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