Ever have one of those days when there just isn’t enough “makeup concealer” to hide all those unsightly imperfections? I certainly hope a Girlfriend reading this can toss me a high five or shout out a ‘me too!’
I look into the mirror and marvel at the awesome wonder of makeup ~~ disguises and blurs away some of what I don’t want the rest of the world to see ~~ but man-made products can only do so much to camouflage ~~ the lines and wrinkles and scars still exist beneath the masking effect of a cover-up.
Growing up I wrestled with being me ~~ my eyes were always affixed upon the “beauty of others” ~~ their talents, their natural ability to make friends, their external appearances; I wanted to be someone else ~~ even if for a brief time. My immature self believed that others had it “better” and “easier.” I tried desperately to be like the people I admired. And when I couldn’t, I would hide who I was beneath a mask of a smile and happy person.
By the grace of God, I have learned that I have been special to Him since He first thought of me!
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Masterpiece?? This rattled my brain ~~ when I think of masterpiece, I consider the works of Rembrandt, Michaelangelo ~~ and yet, these pale by comparison to the Divine majesty wrought by God.
God calls me His Masterpiece! He calls you His Masterpiece!!
A masterpiece is never hidden ~~ it’s always on display for all to appreciate and respect and admire. But it’s not the work that is so much applauded as is The Master who “crafted” it.
Psalm 139:13-14 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
It’s tough living in a world full of image-consciousness and the compulsion to “fit in” and be accepted. I get it. But there’s freedom to be beautiful when you and I consider that we were divinely designed by God Himself. That takes beauty to a whole new level!
The ugliness from past experiences and the harshness of life lessons learned sometimes leave behind scars that we seek to “conceal.” I get that, too, Girlfriend.
But God (and these are the sweetest two words I know) loved us and continues to love us through the trials and celebrations of life; even inspite of our imperfections. I’ve also come to realize that some of what I perceive to be imperfections really aren’t ~~ not in God’s Eyes.
1 Samuel 16:7b “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
While I’m on this side of Glory, I know I will still struggle with the way my own eyes perceive myself. But I do know that when God calls something good, I must take Him at His Word.
Let’s begin to remove the mask ~~ let down the veil ~~ and genuinely praise God our Creator for the beauty that He has breathed into us, for we have been imaged after Him.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~ no need to dump out all your makeup ~~ just thank God for making you exactly as He has.
LindaRJohnson
T2T Visionary
Titus Two 
🖐🏼Linda, you are telling MY story too!!! I used to have the same thoughts and once in a while I still do. But I also realize that my Creator sees my beauty no matter what I “look” like.
(BTW, No way I am throwing out my makeup!)💋
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Jackie ~~ “High Ten,” Sister! It’s an ongoing challenge to remember that WHO we truly are ~~ character, heart, and soul ~~ is what God breathed into us. Sometimes daily living can prevent the authenticity of who we belong to from shining through ~~ attitudes, lifestyle, behavior ~~ erroneously get in the way. But if we focus on letting Jesus shine through us it won’t matter how we “appear” because the world will see more of Him. Maybe then we won’t need nearly as much “concealer” as we think!
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