I remember the day I realized I was no longer the youngest or the most slender woman at the place where I worked. Soon after at a family reunion, I became aware I no longer had those distinctions there either. The natural process of growing older accounted for the first, and the weight gain from a medicine I needed to function well for the second. As often happens, I didn’t realize how much I depended on my youth and my slender figure for my identity until they were gone.

Not everyone, however, is unaware of this connection. I heard an account of a beautiful young lady being asked by an older gentleman, “What gives you such self-confidence?” She replied, “It’s because I’m young and beautiful.” The man responded, “I’m sorry to hear that.” When she asked him why, he answered, “Because one day your youth and your beauty will be gone. Then what will you base your confidence on?” A very good question.

I was saddened recently to see an actress whose beauty had been marred by far too many face lifts. Perhaps actors and actresses place their confidence in their physical appearance even more than most. But regardless of our role in life, it is so important to learn at an early age that we are made in the image of God and our worth and value comes from Him. We are not more or less valuable because of our weight, appearance, abilities, or position in life.

I’ve heard it said that we should never compliment our children and grandchildren more on their physical attractiveness or athletic ability than we do on their positive character traits. We don’t want to contribute to them basing their identity on physical qualities that will fade rather than on character traits that will last forever. I am more apt to send a note of encouragement to our grandchildren when they’ve shown great strength of character than when they’ve won a medal.

Cynthia Heald in one of my favorite devotional books, Life Promises for Women, says in her introduction: “In this book you will find stories of women from varied walks of life who portray qualities of inner beauty and character. My prayer is that the lives of these women and the Scriptures given will challenge and encourage you to claim not only the promises of God but His teachings as well so that you will be clothed with the beauty that comes from within—the ‘unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit’ (I Peter 3:4).

If our beauty is only skin deep, aging will be an excruciating process. We will increasingly believe the lies of Satan and our culture that our worth and value is gone rather than believing that our worth and value come from the One in whose image we’re formed.

Father, help me realize that I will only walk in true beauty if the beauty of Jesus shines through me. Amen.