“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Pretty vs. Beautiful

I’m not a pretty crier, fighter, or piece of clay in the Potter’s hand. It’s raw and real and downright ugly sometimes. My husband and I just finished a four-month long couple’s Bible study. Parts of the journey have been anything but pretty as we’ve struggled and fought for our marriage. There have been times of incredible celebration and times when we could hardly look at each other. This morning as we were talking about how we’ve each grown, and are continuing to grow, I made the comment, “It’s not exactly pretty right now, but it’s gonna be beautiful.” God knows how we’re going to look as the finished product. He sees the beauty of us fighting for better. He’s drawn us closer to each other and, more importantly, closer to Himself.

I looked up the definition of pretty: attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful or handsome; an attractive thing, typically a pleasing but unnecessary accessory. Beautiful was defined as possessing qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc; delighting the senses or mind.

I don’t really agree that “beauty is only skin deep.” I think perhaps “pretty is only skin deep” is closer. Beauty goes deeper—etched and formed in the Potter’s hand (Isaiah 64:8). Sometimes it’s ugly as He removes imperfections or perhaps breaks us to form something new. Beauty is every bit as much about the inside of a person as the outside, probably more so.

I’ve often wanted to be pretty, but I would much rather be beautiful and, no matter what I may think about my looks, I know God is creating something beautiful within me. As I allow Him to, it will naturally overflow to the outside in the form of love and a joyful and peaceful countenance. 

We’re beautiful to God and He delights in us: “For the LORD delights in His people; He crowns the humble with victory” (Psalm 149:4).

I’m blessed to be married to a man who delights in me and truly thinks I’m beautiful inside and out. I’ve often wondered what lenses he’s looking through, but I’m realizing God has given him the lenses to see me as such. I need to embrace and believe Song of Solomon 7:6: “Oh, how beautiful you are! How pleasing, my love, how full of delights!” 

Ladies, let us purpose to submit to the Potter’s hand. We cannot begin to see the scope of God’s work from beginning to end, but we can trust that He knows best and that He will make us beautiful in His perfect timing.

Father God, thank You that You delight in us and that You desire to go deeper than pretty—You desire to make us beautiful. Amen.