Resilient: Powerful Hope in a Dangerous WorldSample

Do you know how beautiful you are? Probably not.

We live in an image-driven world. Every day, we’re inundated with messages that tell us we’re not enough. In addition, the world tells us that our worth is based on how we look. We spend billions of dollars trying to look a little younger, a little stronger, a little slimmer…a little more beautiful.

It’s exhausting – and impossible. The Bible teaches us in 1 Peter that our value is rooted in so much more than how we look on the outside. Thank God.

God values the deep things in our lives that will never fade. God made us the way He wants us and loves us the way He made us. By His grace, He is forming us into something beautiful.

In 1 Peter 3:3-4, God shows us what really matters to Him. He sees past the masks we wear. He sees past the things that don’t matter and the things that won’t last. God invites us to see our worth the way He sees our worth. This new perspective leads to a new sense of freedom. It also makes room in our lives for a new goal.

We can forget about impressing people with the way we look. We can focus on cultivating character that honors God. We can focus on living a Spirit-filled life. This kind of life is endlessly refreshing. When we focus on the beauty that comes from Jesus, our lives will resonate with meaning, and our hearts will be filled with joy.

Take some time in prayer.

Reflection Questions

1. Psalms 139 teaches that you were “hand-made” by God in a personal way. What are the unique things about you that you believe God values?
2. How do you feel challenged to pursue “external beauty?” How is this getting in the way of the life God might want from you?
3. How can you grow in beauty in “the hidden person of your heart?”

Pray and ask God to encourage you. Pray and ask God to help you see the value in your life that He values. Ask God to help you pursue the kind of beauty that lasts forever.