Looking at this Heart

Have you ever had one of those days…one of those days that you just feel…ugly? I used to have those a lot…especially during those early teen years--asking God, why am I not as pretty as her? Why can’t I look better? Does anyone think I’m beautiful? I think all of us have those thoughts at times.

I haven’t had any of those constant thoughts on my mind for a long time, but all of a sudden today those thoughts have crept back up on me. I was around a bunch of really pretty girls today…I mean they were what you might call drop-dead gorgeous. That kind of made me look at myself in the mirror and say, God, why am I not prettier? What's wrong with me? And these are thoughts that can haunt many of us in this world. In our world, we are focused a lot on ourselves . I mean, just flip on your TV and you are bombarded with messages telling you that you aren’t good enough. According to commercials we don’t have long enough lashes, we need to be thinner, have clearer skin, we need to b stronger and more confident, and us girls need to wear a whole bunch of make up to cover up every little imperfection we might have.

Have you ever thought about how shallow the world has become?...I'm sure the thought has crossed your mind ;) I mean, there’s nothing wrong with us looking our best and taking care of the bodies we have, but we have become obsessed with what others think about us and how to make ourselves better. Instead of living in a world that focuses on helping those around us who are hurting, or loving each other, or encouraging others around us, we are completely focused on what we look like and how the world sees us.

But as I was consumed with thoughts about my appearance this afternoon, I remembered what God had said to Samuel in the Bible. Samuel was to anoint the future king of the Israelites—God’s chosen people. Samuel thought for sure God’s chosen king would be a strong, handsome, tall, and accomplished young man. Samuel was looking for the outward qualities that a king might have. But God reminded Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God ended up chosing David, a young shepard boy who still looked like a little kid. But God wasn’t focused on what the world thought about this young man, he knew David’s heart. David was a man after God’s own heart—He was seeking after the Lord with everything.

God’s eyes and heart are completely different from ours. He sees the real us—He sees our hearts. Reading the above passage in Samuel makes me think a little differently about what’s really important, I don't know about you. It's amazing, really. When God looks at me, He doesn’t see my face, my hair, or the cute outfit I just bought, He looks straight into my heart. And because my heart has been filled with Him and has been washed clean by His saving grace and His blood, He sees something beautiful.

In the end, it’s not going to matter whether I was drop-dead gorgeous or a Plain Jane in the eyes of the world. What is going to matter is my heart. That is what God will see in the end—He knows it in and out. He created it. Every single part of our hearts--our love, our passions, our unique quirks--they were all created by Him for a special purpose. Our hearts ae special to Him. We don’t have to try to impress God with something fake on the outside. He sees the beautiful heart inside :) For “charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” Proverbs 31:30. Someone with a beautiful heart is truly beautiful to the Lord--no matter what they may look like to the world. That is so cool :)

Sometimes I wish that that is the all that the world could see—my heart. I think that’s what most of us wish. How crazy would it be if that is all we could see in each other—our hearts? Things would be a lot different. I hope and pray that as I go through this life, God would teach me to see through His eyes, instead of making rash judgements about someone by what I see on the outside. It would give me a little different perspective on the people around me.

Real love in this life comes from being able to get past what is on the outside and love people for who they are--for their hearts. It's amazing when you get to know people--really know people--how your thoughts about them can change. I know during this first year of college that has been the case with so many people I've come to know. Like with a lot of my guy friends, when I first met them, I would "size them up"--thinking "Oh he's a jock, or he's a pretty boy, or he's a band geek." But my first impressions about my friends have been so wrong. Every day that I talk to people I go to college with and every moment I spend with these people--I really get to know them for who they really are at heart. And it's amazing how unique and awesome each heart is. I've begun to see how amazing God's formation of each heart really is, and I'm so thankful for each one.

And really, in the end what will really matter is not our appearances or our impressions. But it is love. The love that God had for us, in sending His son to save our lives so we can see Him face to face at the end of time. And His Fatherly love for us in our walk on earth with Him every single day. What's important is the love that I have for the one who saved me and what I did with that love. Love is eternal. The Bible says that (1 Corinthians 13:13)"three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love" and I believe that with all I am. It will last forever just like our God does. That is amazing. Love can make an eternal difference in a life—I know it has in mine.

So as I continue on this journey of life, may I not focus on my appearance to the world, and think only of myself. Instead of focusing so much about what the world thinks of you, I hope that you too find joy in how the King of Kings sees you, instead. But may you and I rest in knowing that a beautiful heart is what matters to our God in the end. There is nothing worthwhile in the long-run in being completely caught up in the way we look. May we keep an eternal perspective It’s freeing when we realize that God does really see our hearts when He looks at us. May we forever find joy and peace in knowing that our King who sees who we really are. Praise Him who loves us so much!

May my entire life bring glory to His name! Thank you God!

And thanks for reading :)

~Kasey