With Cynthia L. Simmons
Q: We all want to look good, but how do we learn to balance our desire for outward beauty and inward character in a media-saturated world?
A: We all desire to present our best selves to the world, but we must be careful not to let our focus on outward appearance overshadow the development of our inner beauty.
Throughout history, women have gone to extreme lengths to enhance their looks, sometimes costing their health, their bank accounts and even their lives. The desire to enhance one’s appearance is a natural part of being human. I can imagine even Eve adorning herself with flowers or fashioning necklaces from ivy.
Over the centuries, women have followed some rather unusual beauty regimens.
Some applied overnight masks of opium, rinsing them off with vinegar come morning. In Austria, ladies consumed arsenic-laced wafers in pursuit of fair, radiant skin. Tragically, a few paid the ultimate price for this dangerous practice.
For centuries, Venetian ceruse, a mixture of vinegar, water, and lead, was highly prized. It promised a luxurious, translucent complexion, but at a terrible cost.
The more one used it, the more one needed, and it caused blemishes, premature aging, and symptoms of lead poisoning like hair loss and anemia. Thankfully, modern cosmetics have come a long way in terms of safety. Yet as believers, we’re called to look beyond the surface and consider the state of our hearts. The Bible reminds us that even Satan’s beauty led to his downfall. If beauty could corrupt an angel, how much more should we be on guard?
After all, no one truly enjoys the company of a selfish or rude person, no matter how stunning they may appear.
As Proverbs 11:22 so vividly puts it, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion” (ESV).
The apostle Peter offers timeless wisdom when he advises, “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear” (1 Peter 3:3 ESV). He’s not saying we can’t enjoy beautifying ourselves, but rather that we shouldn’t stop there. He continues, “but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:4 ESV).
True loveliness shines through when we cultivate the fruit of the spirit.
Consider this image from 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”
Just as Moses’ face glowed after spending time with God, we too can radiate an inner light through our relationship with Jesus. The more time we spend in His presence, the more we reflect His beauty.
In essence, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying fashion, makeup or other forms of self-expression. It’s part of the joy of being human, but don’t forget to pair it with an even bolder spirit. Let’s remember as we apply that mascara or choose the perfect outfit, that we also give more attention to the qualities that make us truly radiant from within—kindness, compassion, wisdom.
When we blend physical beauty with inner radiance from spending time with Jesus and letting Him transform us from within, that’s when we truly shine!
