Be-you-tiful Always: A Post for my Lovely Friend

I wrote this post for a special friend who has no idea how lovely she is.

It always surprises me just how much variation in the world there is.  It shouldn’t.  We are created by a God with an infinite amount of ingenuity.  I’m guessing if He wanted us all to be the same, He would have created Adam and Adam, alongside a few more little Adams to create the most perfect family ever.  Only He didn’t.  In His infinite wisdom He created variety and He embraced it all, and called all of it good.

And then He gave each of us a purpose; a reason for being just who we are:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10

Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but perfectly us.  There is no body like me in the world, and there is nobody like you in the world.  And you are so special, so loved and so appreciated by those who know you.

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

God works amazing things through the sacrifice that is your life.  He is forming you every day as you willingly submit yourself to Him.  You are His willing masterpiece and, except to surrender yourself to His hands, you need do nothing.

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138:8

Please understand what I am trying to say.  You are perfect.  Not because you are perfect, but because you are perfectly you.  You are doing a GREAT job!  I know.  I watch you.  I learn from you.  Believe me, You are FABULOUS.  But I’m not the only one who thinks so:

“The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior Who saves! He will rejoice over you with joy: He will rest in silent satisfaction and in His love He will be silent and make no mention of past sins or even recall them; He will exult over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 

I know you know all this, but I thought a reminder wouldn’t go amiss 🙂

Keep your eyes fixed on God’s purpose for your life.  Try to ignore what is around you.  Try not to compare because you’ll either judge yourself better or judge yourself worse.  Neither is helpful and neither is true.  Judge yourself against God’s calling on your life.  He calls you only to do your best, in His strength.  Keep your eyes fixed on Him.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2

And finally know that we are here to help you.  Always.  You don’t need to do it all yourself.  You have many people around you who love you deeply and would all step in to be a crutch if necessary.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

You are perfectly imperfect and we all love you just as you are.