Encouragement for Today

May 16, 2025 What Makes You Beautiful KRISTEN WETHERELL Lee en español

“… All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field … The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8 (ESV)

“Mommy, why do you wear makeup?” My young daughter watches me get ready for the day.

Why do I wear makeup? I wonder. I hadn’t stopped to think about it before.

I look at my beautiful girl, who will probably want to wear makeup someday too. Will she know that no amount of makeup, money or influence will make her truly beautiful? The better question is: Do I believe that? Oh, how I wish the answer was always yes. But the female struggle to feel beautiful doesn’t end with childhood.

How can you and I hold to a firm belief that God alone makes us truly beautiful? Here are three truths to remember about where true beauty comes from:

We reflect our beautiful God. Our glorious Creator made us to reflect Him, to be like millions of mirrors displaying His holiness and worth (Genesis 1:27-28). Yet our mirror image has been distorted by sin. Instead of listening to what God says is true, we listen to the world and its lies. We’re tempted to believe our beauty is found in appearance, accomplishments and relationships. But nothing and no one can fix the God-designed mirror apart from God Himself.

We listen to God’s voice. Earthly beauty will quickly fade, but God’s Word will last forever, as our key verses say: “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field … The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:6-8).

Only Jesus and His Word of Truth will remain when this earth passes away. Are we pursuing eternal things, like looking into the revealing mirror of God’s enduring Word? Scripture has the power to change our minds and hearts, restoring us to honor God’s image. Through His Word, the Spirit makes us truly beautiful as Jesus is beautiful.

We tune out the world’s voice. The world will tell us to find our identity and worth in anything but God. Instead, let’s become discerning about what we see and hear. Do we have friends who will speak God’s enduring Truth to us? Are we guarding our hearts against vanity and jealousy? Do we need to reduce our use of social media and anything else that delivers the world’s lies about beauty?

Jesus is the most beautiful person who ever lived, the mirror image of God’s glory, and He came to restore our beauty and our relationship to God. He will open our eyes to see how glorious God is, and He will help us increasingly reflect His beauty.

We were made for this, for everlasting beauty in His beautiful presence — and in Christ, this beauty begins right now.

Heavenly Father, You are altogether glorious and infinitely beautiful. Open our eyes to see Your beauty as we gaze upon Jesus in Your Word. And as we do, daily transform us into Your image, and make us truly beautiful like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Looking for a devotional about beauty that you and your daughter or granddaughter could do together? Grab a copy of Kristen Wetherell’s book What Makes You Beautiful.

Do you know and love young kids? It’s never too early to teach little ones the truths of Scripture! Kristen has written a board book series for children called For the Bible Tells Me So. Get your copies!

ENGAGE

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Enter to WIN your very own copy of What Makes You Beautiful by Kristen Wetherell. To celebrate this book, Kristen’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by filling out the form here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify them via email by Monday, May 19, 2025.}

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Isaiah 62:3-5, “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God … and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (ESV).

Do you find it hard to believe that God rejoices over His people like this? Why or why not?

What are some practical ways you can listen to God’s voice in Scripture and tune out the world’s voice? Share some ideas in the comments.

© 2025 by Kristen Wetherell. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Crossway for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.

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