Once upon a time in my little world of white castles and Barbie dolls, I imagined the world as a safe place. Seashells and peculiar rocks inspired a sense of wonder, and beauty was a given as opposed to an insecurity.
If the Lord has sealed my heart with His promise: “How beautiful you are, my darling, there is no flaw in you”-Song of Songs 4:7, then why do I feel as if I have so many inadequacies?
The world of a little girl slowly becomes manipulated with greater exposure to the media and its impractical assertions of beauty’s definition.
Last night, as we sat down at a bar, I began talking to a young woman, Oi. Within five minutes, she impulsively touched her stomach and communicated that she was too fat. “Soai,” I countered enthusiastically (Soai – the phonetic Thai word for ‘beautiful’). She shook her head and repeated the hand motion. My heart broke because I am incapable of convincing this woman that she is radiant with her brown eyes, bronze complexion and enduring spirit. I paused and prayed silently that the Holy Spirit would move in her heart and reveal the splendor that she possesses.
The reality is that our world suffers from an epidemic of “unachievables.” No matter how hard we struggle to attain beauty, money, satisfaction, etc., the world will not relent, and happiness remains an elusive concept—unachievable.
Jesus said “I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart. And the peace that I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”-John 14:27
As we followed the Holy Spirit along Bangla Road, I could hear Christ whispering His delight over each woman and His desire to satisfy the hungers in each man. This is His Mount Zion- a city of broken people, His creation, deceived but insatiably hungry for a food that the world cannot serve- the divine food of His affection. Isaiah 55:1-2
