True Beauty

Recently, God has brought back to me a section of scripture that I had put on the back burner for awhile because I didn't really like it's implications.  I did not want to face the work He was wanting to do on my heart, cause let's face it; when He chisels, it hurts.  I didn't want to admit I even needed this part of my life worked on.  I have to be completely honest, even though I have raised the white flag of surrender in this area, it is work for me to keep that flag raised, because some days, I would rather do things my way.

1 Peter 3 is one of those sections of scripture that us women don't like to always talk about.  The area of submission can bring up all kinds of emotions and thoughts.  God has taught me a lot already about submission, that it isn't a stomping on of who I am, but a protection and a covering on my life.  I have learned to appreciate and love walking in submission, although, ask my hubby and God; I don't always do it perfectly.  It actually wasn't the first two verses of 1 Peter 3 that I was struggling with, it was the ones that follow:

"Your adornment must no be merely external-braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."

I knew these verses we intended to do a work in my heart, cause I could feel my spirit react and tears threatened to fall from my eyes and down my face.  I knew there was something deeper to this than just talking about what I choose to wear as jewelry and if I should even wear jewelry at all.  There was more to it than if I should braid my hair, wear it down, in curls, or completely cover it.  There was something deeper.  I struggled with this verse for a couple of days and then God opened my eyes to better understand my hang up.  Gentleness, quietness, meekness all are signs of weakness to me.....They all feed into the one thing I really hate and that is being unheard, misunderstood, and walked all over like a rag rug.  These are things in my life, that as a young teenage girl I had said, " I will never let anyone run all over me.  I will be heard.  I will stand up and fight."

What God began to reveal to me, though, is that strength is not found in bullying my way through, shouting the loudest, and making sure I bring about justice, but true strength comes from allowing Him to fight for me.  If I allow Him to fight for me, I don't have to be worried about being run over, unheard, or misunderstood.  All that fight in me, is like all that jewelry, fancy clothing, and perfectly coifed hair.  They are all a distraction of the true beauty that is laying underneath it all.  It is a distraction of the finer thing....simplicity, sweet obedience, meekness, gentleness....which are far more valuable and beautiful then the sparkling distraction of the jewelry.