A while back I decided to give up make up for lent. You're either thinking one of two things right now, "you're crazy how are you not going to wear makeup for 40 days?!" or "what that doesn't even sound hard.." If you're thinking the latter let me just tell you now this was one of the hardest things I have EVER done. I'm not even the type of girl that wears makeup every day, if I'm just going to be sitting in class I don't usually see a reason to wear it I might throw mascara on from time to time but that's usually it. So for some reason I didn't think this would be a challenge. Boy, was I wrong. But MAN am I glad I took this challenge because I learned SO much, and this is what I learned.

1. When you don’t wear makeup you get to sleep in, a lot.

2. I can rub my eyes whenever I want to.

3. My skin loved the break from all the harsh, pore clogging, chemicals.

4. There will be days where people will ask you if you’re sick, tired, etc.

5. There will also be days where people will be in awe of your “natural beauty” & they’ll tell you a million times that they are.

6. Jesus doesn’t care if you’re wearing makeup.

7. Beauty isn’t skin deep.

8. Beauty comes from within.

9. The media portrays female beauty in such a harsh light, that in society we are expected to be constantly perfect.

10. Makeup companies, the media, and men have it drilled into our heads that looks are more important than what is in your brain.

11. Going out at night with your friends who are in full hair and makeup can and will make you feel like crap.

12. But remembering why you’re doing what you’re doing is worth it all.

13. No one, and I mean no one else’s opinion matters on your looks, all that matters is that you love yourself.

14. Confidence is key.

15. But being confident every day is extremely difficult.

16. There are going to be days where you don’t want to be seen by anyone.

17. But that’s when you are reminded most of God’s love for us.

18. It’s so much easier to build a relationship with Christ when you’re not worrying about if your lipstick is smudged, or your mascara is running.

19. You’ll save money, by not having to replace your makeup as often.

20. You don’t have to worry about whether or not you washed all your makeup off before bed.

21. You don’t have to worry about makeup all over your pillowcases.

22. Don’t brush off the compliments, always say thank you, because you know they mean it.

23. Girls will tell you they’re jealous, just smile and tell them thank you.

24. I don’t need to find joy in the compliments people give me.

25. My joy is found the love of Christ.

26. My identity doesn’t lie in what people think of me.

27. My identity doesn’t lie in the amount of likes I get on social media.

28. My identity doesn’t lie in my hair, there is someone out there who needs it more than me.

29. My identity lies in Jesus Christ and how I live for his glory

30. We are all guilty of judging each other.

31. In this society, as women we need to have each others backs, and not tear each other down.

32. Never judge a book by it’s cover because you don’t know what they’re dealing with.

33. I can do anything through Christ, who gives me strength.

34. Makeup and my obsession with beauty was acting as a distraction in my relationship with Christ.

35. The compliments flow right through us, but it can take one negative comment to destroy a person.

36. These comments do not define us, the only thing that defines us is how we live for Jesus.

37. You don’t have to feel pretty every. single. day.

38. Jesus will always think that you are beautiful.

39. No matter how many times you get told you are beautiful, all it takes is that one person saying it and really meaning it for you finally get it through your freaking head.

40. I am all together beautiful.

After 40 very long days, I discovered my true beauty shows when my walls are down, when my joy shines through like a light to all because I know of the love Christ. I discovered that no matter how hard I try to look good, I am my most beautiful when I am getting to worship my Lord and Savior and I know I have a grin on my face that stretches from ear to ear. I discovered that I feel the most beautiful when I am living for the glory of God and rejoicing in my child-like faith. I discovered that even though we try to ignore the things other people say it matters to us, and that is something I am still working on. I am not perfect, I don’t want anyone to think that I am claiming to be. I am flawed, I make mistakes, I mess up, I don’t always know how to live for the glory of Jesus. I. Am. Not. Perfect. But I am, perfectly imperfect and I know that Jesus still loves me and always will love me because I am his co heir. I am the daughter of God, and God loves all his children.