Kristen Henderlong

A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog post titled, “Meant for Beauty.”  If you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to take a look.  This week I was moved to write about the same topic.  I believe there’s more to explore here.

What does beauty mean?

Well the google definition is interesting, “a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.”

I appreciate that the explanation of the term mentions “the senses” and not only sight.  I, too, believe beauty is so much more than what one can see.  I also believe it’s more powerful than what most people understand.  If you’ve been following along you would have also read my post titled, “Senses.”  Beauty is perceived through the senses.

Maybe you have never thought about it before.  Maybe you only think about beauty in the context of how you look. It seems to me in the world we live, the loudest version of beauty is very shallow. I guarantee every woman I know has worried about whether or not she is beautiful.

I still remember that pre-teen pimple-faced girl with glasses, braces and frizzy hair who compared herself to all the girls with smooth skin, perfectly straight hair and American Eagle jeans.  Their long skinny legs and athletic bodies put mine to shame.  At least that’s how I thought at the time.

Beauty is so much more.

Maybe we have it all wrong.  Maybe it’s not based on our standards.  Maybe beauty is defined by the One who created it in the first place. 

So… how does God define beauty?  What does He say is beautiful?

In 1 Samuel chapter 16 it is recorded of God saying to Samuel, “Don’t judge by appearance or height…The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

So in regards to humans, God is more concerned about the meditations of the heart.  Does He say the heart is beautiful?  No.  Actually the prophet Jeremiah quotes the Lord, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows it? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives” (Jeremiah 17: 9-10).

The beauty in heart comes when we are renewed and restored in Christ. Paul talks about this a lot. In Colossians he writes:

“…you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault” (Col. 1:21-22 emphasis added).

Some of the most beautiful things in this world are pure, blemish free, clean, untouched, unique and refreshing! Through Jesus we are all of these things.

Then we look all around us and see so much beauty in His creation.  For me, to see the mountains, especially when the light hits them just right… it’s breath-taking.  We marvel and aw at what God has made in nature, yet when we look at each other OR we look in the mirror, we judge and we critique every bump, blemish and detail of our bodies.

Are we not part of God’s creation as well?  Didn’t God create every aspect of the world and call it “good” and then also create man and woman IN HIS IMAGE and call it GOOD!?

I don’t know about you, but I would say if it’s good, it’s also beautiful.

When I go on a long hike, feel the fresh air in my lungs, the burn in my legs, the sun on my face and eventually reach the most breath-taking view, do you know what’s on my mind?  Not my problems, that’s for sure.  The beauty is captivating and revitalizing.  It’s like a gracious gift of relief and it’s from the most incredible Artist of all artists.  The experience stops me in my tracks and brings me outside of myself to the point of complete aw and worship.

That’s beauty.  It’s not about us.  It’s about Him.  It brings us outside of ourselves and points us to our Creator… the Beauty Maker.

Beauty is a reminder… it generates true presence.  It does something to the mind and the spirit. It wakes us up.  It makes us grateful.  It brings us back to what matters.  It centers the soul and focuses the mind.  God’s beauty in His creation is like an expression of His heart, calling us back to Himself.  It’s yet another sign of His love and His desire for connection with us.  It only makes sense.  Why else would it affect us so deeply?

If you are not a ‘nature’ person, first of all—I am sorry.  Second, it’s ok— you can still enjoy the beauty.  There are still ways to experience beauty, have it bring you to your knees in worship and be reminded of His goodness.  Ask Him to show you.  Look around and be open to what He shows you.  I see God’s beauty in children.  I see God’s beauty in just watching people; someone’s laugh; when two people embrace in a hug; someone’s accent; the warmth and glimmer of morning light in the windows… it’s everywhere.

We were meant for God’s beauty… to experience it and then turn to Him in awe and wonder. As we worship- He makes us whole. He purifies our dirt and grime. He cleanses us from guilt and shame. The Beauty Maker erases the ugly with His LOVE.

You are meant for beauty.

And Remember: You are Loved.