We live in a world that treats beauty like we’re all supposed to have a spotless house while drinking green juice and pretending we aren’t one inconvenience away from losing it in the self checkout at Walmart. Like you need to be dressed to perfection every time you leave the house.
And honestly, the world is pretty loud about it's opinion about what beauty is. And as women — especially moms — it’s easy to feel like we’re constantly falling short of some impossible standard created by people who not only kniw how, but apparently have time, to fold fitted sheets for fun.
But thankfully, God does not look at us the way humans do. Because if He did, some of us would’ve been in trouble before our butts hit the chairs. God notices things that actually matter. He notices patience when I’m overwhelmed. Kindness when I’m tired. The way I love my family. The way I keep showing up even on the hard days.
He sees the me awake at 2 a.m. comforting a crying baby while looking like a Victorian ghost haunting the hallway. He sees me trying my best even when I feel exhausted and overlooked. He sees gentleness, compassion, forgiveness, strength, and faithfulness — the kind of beauty that doesn’t disappear when you wash your makeup off at night (Way to go finding time to put it on!).
Human beauty standards change every five minutes anyway. One year we’re contouring our faces into completely different people, the next year we’re supposed to look “naturally effortless.” At this point I don’t even know what the beauty standard is anymore. I’m just hoping my eyebrows don't come together in the middle.
That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to enjoy makeup, or wanting to feel pretty. There’s nothing wrong with those things. Sometimes putting on a little mascara genuinely helps you feel like a functioning member of society again. But those things were never supposed to define our worth.
Because real beauty — the kind God cares about — isn’t found in perfection. It’s found in the heart.
And that’s freeing! Because one day the makeup comes off, the hair grays, and gravity eventually comes for all of us. But kindness, love, faith, gentleness, and strength? Those things only grow more beautiful with time.
Even if we do experience that beauty while wearing an oversized t-shirt with mystery stains.
“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
