What does the Bible say about beauty?
Daily we are bombarded with messages on the latest fashion trends, the best makeup choices, must do skincare routines and last but not least, what beauty really looks like.
In 2016, Dove commissioned a beauty and confidence research study on women and the results were not surprising. The report summarized that there was a steady decline in body confidence among women and girls (in all age and geography categories) with low body esteem being a primary challenge. The report identified the issue as a global one with “women (69%) and girls (65%) cite increasing pressures from advertising and media to reach an unrealistic standard of beauty as a key force in driving appearance anxiety, while 56% of all women recognize the impact of an ‘always on’ social media culture in driving the pressure for perfection.”
Dove noted that:
- Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful (up from 2% in 2004)
- Only 11% of girls globally are comfortable describing themselves as ‘beautiful’
- 72% of girls feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful
- 80% of women agree that every woman has something about her that is beautiful but do not see their own beauty
- More than half of women globally (54%) agree that when it comes to how they look, they are their own worst beauty critic
I get it. I am one of those women that hate taking pictures because I don’t think that I am beautiful enough. The Lord laid on my heart a few weeks ago that I had to deal with this mindset.
So what does the bible say about beauty?
There are a few verses that tie beauty to men and women in the bible, but these two wrapped around my heart:
Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. – Ezekiel 28:17
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. – Proverbs 31:30
I can chase after beauty. I can wear all the makeup in the world so that I am acceptable to those around me or who see me. But God doesn’t care about that. Why? Because
God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27
And why is this important? Because, after the Lord had finished creating everything,
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. – Genesis 1:31
It was very good. So in His creation of you, and me, He declared that it was very good. The Lord never makes a mistake. When He created each of us, it was for His purpose and declared that it was good. Beauty can corrupt. He wants women of God who fear and love Him.
No, I may not look like ____________ (whoever that person is), but just as He said that she was made well, it is the same for me as well. I can guarantee you, that she is also looking at someone else and wishing she looked like them.
Join me over the next few weeks as we explore a series answering the question: “What does a Godly Woman look like?”
Reflection
Food for thought: There will always be someone that looks better than us. Always. But isn’t it a blessing that you have life and a God who in His infinite wisdom created you, looked on you with pride and joy, and declared “Very Good”? Declare to the world today how beautiful you are.
Prayer: Holy Father, you know the pressures that Your people are burdened under. We all want to feel accepted and loved. Forgive us that we don’t look to You for that affirmation, but we seek it from the world. You desire women who fear You; not those who focus on beauty, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Thank you for Your Truth, even when sometimes it is hard to hear. In Jesus’ name. Amen
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