True Beauty and Asking For It Out Loud

The other day I ran out of make-up foundation. Most of the time I hate the practice of make-up, so I tossed around the idea of not replacing it. For American reasons this didn’t last and I found myself in the beauty aisle. Picture yourself there with me – shiny linoleum under our feet and smooth grocery-store tunes playing in the background. All the colorful containers of cremes surrounding us seem a bit overwhelming. This is the part where you just want to leave because doesn’t superficial, skin-deep beauty make you tired? Stay with me here because we’re going to pick up a little foundation that runs deeper and lasts longer than the stuff in the bottle.

Our Creator has something to say to us about true beauty: “Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear – but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1 Peter 3:3-4).

A gentle and quiet spirit. Hmmm, there are many days that I run out of that. Don’t you wish you could stroll down the beauty aisle and pick some up to lather, rinse, and repeat whenever the situation calls for it? (I’ll take one small bottle of “gentle and quiet spirit” for myself, please, and the jumbo size to slather all over my children, thank you!) But, seriously, God knows how weak we can be in this department and He’s offering us “imperishable beauty”. So how does one go about scuffing off the rough and loud for the gentle and quiet?

Ask for it. You may accuse me of oversimplification for the answer I just gave. I’m actually accusing myself. But, you know, God’s not in the habit of making the answers difficult, that’s our habit. Time and time again in Scripture God tells us to just ask. For instance, James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” This simple step of asking brings us to the feet of God’s throne with Jesus by our side and poises the Spirit in us to move at God’s word. Isn’t that humbling, encouraging, and powerful!? When “the hidden person of my heart” is in such turmoil that my outward body is tense, my face is in a scowl, and the tone and volume of my voice is off the charts, then the only place for me is prayer.

I’m sure you’ve had these turmoil moments. Maybe it was with your co-worker, your husband, your children, and it’s always fun when it’s with yourself. I’ve thrown up so many frustrated, one-liner pleas to the Lord it’d be something else to read them all one day. This type of communication with the Lord isn’t wrong, but it seems kind of immature if it’s the only way we know how to communicate in the tough times. We encourage little children to “use their words” to problem solve and the natural implication is that they talk out loud.

Try asking the Lord to move you from silent prayers to those spoken aloud. Now I know this is uncomfortable and depending on the scenario not appropriate. However, asking out loud does many things.

•          It pronounces to ourselves and others that God is there. Sometimes we forget and it makes all the difference.
•         It postures us appropriately before God and others. He can use a submissive woman and others are more willing to follow a humble leader.
•         It penetrates to the heart and works inside-out. Can your angry, inner-woman speak aloud and remain sinless? That gentler, quieter spirit is what’s acceptable before the throne of God and in public when the whole world is listening.
•         It patterns a life of prayer for those watching. We lead generations.
•         It provides power – power through the Spirit when you need it most.

When you feel like you’re empty of beauty ask for it from the One who emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. Jesus had no outward form or majesty that we should look at him, or beauty that we should desire him. Yet, he possesses the “imperishable beauty” that we were created to desire. He is its only source and he pours it out on us lavishly. The Lord says, “Even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:18, 21).

The next time you feel trapped in a superficial world and think you’re standing on the linoleum floors of a cheap beauty aisle, ask out loud for true beauty. Know that you are precious in His sight and you’re standing in the soon-to-be golden streets of the everlasting Kingdom of God.

One thing have I asked of the Lord,

    that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

    all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

    and to inquire in his temple.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

    be gracious to me and answer me!

You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

-          Psalm 27:4, 7-8