Let me begin by saying that this article was written for me just as much as it was written for you. I am not perfect. I struggle with everything in this letter just as much as the next girl. So please, do not take this as me looking down on others or pretending to have it all together. (Also, this article is not saying that getting dressed up, wearing makeup, or fixing your hair is wrong.)
The other night I was talking to one of my good friends, and I felt the need to be completely honest with her about some of my insecurities. I told her that I struggle with not feeling very pretty. I struggle with being jealous of other girls or getting angry about some of my flaws. My friend was then honest with me and said, "Sometimes I struggle with that a lot too, but I had wondered if I was the only girl that did. It's nice to know that I'm not alone."
My heart was broken for her when I heard that. It's one thing for me to struggle with not feeling pretty, but when I heard that from one of my friends (who is beautiful), my heart physically hurt for her. I wanted to say, "Girl, WHAT?! Are you crazy??" But then I realized something.
Even the most beautiful girl in the world is going to feel insecure about herself in one way or another.
I imagine it to look like that scene from the movie Mean Girls when the three "Plastics" are standing in the mirror of Regina George's bedroom, and they all start complaining about some part of their body:
"My hair line is so weird."
"My pores are huge."
"My nail beds suck."
Watching the movie, you kind of laugh and think how ridiculous they sound. But that is honestly one of the most accurate depictions of ladies ANY age. (Age doesn't excuse you from insecurities.) We feel the need to criticize our bodies and take the appropriate measures to cover up those unwanted features. We try to find that perfect mascara or just the right eye-shadow to make ourselves feel worth something. For me, I know that if I go without any makeup or don't fix my hair for a day, I feel a HUGE depletion in my self-worth.
Here's what I want you to remember despite these insecurities:
You are beautiful.
I don't care who you are, what size you are, or what your skin color is. You are beautiful and you are loved and you are special. Please do not allow yourself to get caught up in comparing yourself to other women, because that is SO unfair! We are all made differently and with our own strengths. And here's the best part--you are made in the image of the God of the universe and He made you in a specific way for a specific reason. Just as important is the fact that life isn't about how you look on the outside. If your soul is beautiful, then that will radiate brighter than any highlighter you could buy off of a makeup shelf. Instead of seeking to find worth from your outward appearance, maybe it's time we look inward.
Do you have a heart with pure intentions? Do you have a soul seeking to know Christ? Do you have eyes that look for the best in people? Do you have hands that are eager to serve others? Do you have lips that speak kind words? Do you have feet that are constantly running to Jesus?
I would like to challenge you to make those questions apart of your morning routine. As you're curling your hair tomorrow morning, ask yourself how you can be kind to someone today. Ask God to use you to make someone smile.
I hope you remember that you are beautiful and you are loved and you are even more special than you realize.
