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 the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (Matthew 6:26 NLT)

As you are, you are loved.  “ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT)

As you are, you are important. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you..” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT)

As you are, you are cherished. “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” (Psalm 139:17-18 NLT)

As you are, you are beautiful. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. (Psalm 139:13-15 NIV)

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!