Guest Post: Beauty Comes From Within

Today I'm honored to be sharing a guest post by an amazing young writer, Meridith Thorne! Meridith is a Christian writer who blogs over at The Christian Teen Faith. If you like bite-size devotionals with insights on God's Word, definitely check it out!

With so many challenges, it's hard to keep up with your Christian lifestyle. Television shows these days are always trying to please the masses.

It's hard to find a clean book that you can enjoy and be proud of reading. Going to the library and seeing the kind of books they put in the teen section is just plain shocking. Don't get me started on all the challenges of school. The popular girls can sometimes make you feel like you're not good enough the way you are and you have to change your lifestyle, language, and clothes just to feel good about yourself.

Why do we hang around these people when we know they are not the kind of people who encourage us, help grow our faith, and push us toward the right decision?

We let our fear of not being included push you to make the wrong decision. We don't want to be that person who gets made fun of for dressing modestly, that person who everyone avoids because they feel like you're not good enough. We let that fear control our life and control our Christian lifestyle to the point where if someone had just met us they wouldn't know we were a Christian. Wow! What a scary thing to think about. And if someone couldn't identify you as a Christian, then how can God?

But here is the truth: fitting in on Earth won't matter once you make it to Heaven. God doesn't base your acceptance into Heaven on whether or not you make your hair look perfect or if you just got your nails done.

1 Peter 3:3-4 says:

“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.” (ESV)

God doesn't care if you have acne, or if you're friends with pretty girls. He doesn't care if you have a boyfriend like everyone else. That won't get you a ticket to Heaven.

God cares about inside beauty, not outside beauty.

The things in this world are temporary. Nails chip, Hair gets messy, and clothes get out of style.

But Christianity and staying true to God never gets out of style. It never gets old. And His love never fades.

Proverbs 31:30 says, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth Lord, she shall be praised.” (KVJ)

Your heart shines past outward beauty.

Your love for God matters more than material things.

2 Corinthians 4:16:

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (ESV)

Don't be so worried about pleasing the girls at school that you forget about pleasing God. He sees past your imperfection and looks straight into your heart. And if he finds goodness, faith, and an everlasting love for Him you will be accepted.

So, don't worry about looking like a princess, because you are the Princess of the one true King.

God. ♥️

-Meridith Thorne

Meridith Thorne is a 14-year-old Christian writer hoping to reach people and touch their hearts with her writing. She loves God with all her heart and hopes to help others see his grace through her writing.