Raw Beauty {Be Encouraged with Kristina}

Delight

May 17, 2013

This week I am featuring some amazing ladies who submitted pictures or writing for the theme of this month which is Raw Beauty! When I read what Rachel wrote for this theme I knew it needed to be shared with you all! What an amazing young woman she is! Thanks for writing this Rachel, and thanks to everyone who sent it pictures! – Kristina

Raw Beauty – By Rachel Allison Hoffman
I’ve heard it said that trials reveal what is truly in your heart. Chronic illness has done that to me. It’s so easy to put up faces when things are easy and we’ve energy for the taking, but when we’re tired and worn those faces crumble and the walls we put up come tumbling down.

There’s no longer strength to say “hold this back, push that back, brush that up, keep your chin up, stop talking so much, be smart, be creative, don’t cry so much.” Not when every day is a battle just to stay alive. A battle to want to stay alive.

Forget about not having the energy to cover up the imperfections on my face, things get rough when I don’t even have the energy to cover up the imperfections of my heart. I miss social cues and say things I shouldn’t. I get frustrated over things that I would normally handle just fine. I had to warn my best friend.

“Being my friend isn’t gonna be easy right now. I have more bad days than good. I’m too tired and worn to always do things right. You’re seeing the real, raw, open me. And that can get rough.”

Rough all throughout and downright ugly sometimes. It took a wall to cover that up, but now that wall has crumbled to the ground. There’s no point feigning perfection at this point. This trial has brought me to my knees and I’ve learned to come to terms with it.

No. Not just come to terms with it. Embrace it.

Seeing myself this way has changed the way I see others; it’s given me the realization that we are all so very human – that we all have our imperfections. And we like to cake on our makeup and suck in our tummy and be rid of what we think not beautiful. Because the world is full of false standards of beauty and we think we have to meet them. That we’re not worth it if we don’t meet them. That’s we’re less than perfect if we can’t.

And you know what? We are less than perfect. But far beyond our breakouts, un-toned muscles, or the number on our scale (which, by the way, matters less than you think). Past our skin and bones, to the deepest parts of our souls, we are – despite our salvation – still affected by sin.

We are broken. Imperfect. But loved by a Savior who is making us new day by day. And while the trial may have pulled down your walls and laid bare your every flaw, it has also laid bare the raw, open beauty found within a heart that belongs to the Savior.

There is so much beauty in a heart striving toward God. It’s so real. So tangible. Just raw, open, REAL beauty. And it’s a beauty that is often hidden away behind the same walls that hide our flaws.

That beauty is a reflection of how great our God is and if we don’t let it shine for what it is, our testimony to the world will look as fake as an over-done makeup job. We need to let that beauty shine and reflect the God who gifted it.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in thehouse. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:14-16

It’s time to let our walls fall to the ground. It’s time to be vulnerable and open, real and raw.

This is not to say that we fly off the handle and don’t restrain ourselves. This is not a plea for a life of foolish disregard, but rather a plea for a life of openness. An approach that says, “Yes, I’m human. Yes, I make mistakes. I welcome you with open arms into my life. Look! God is making me new and filling me with His love and joy. He works through my imperfections and is strength in my weakness. I have doubts and fears and struggles, just like you. I have things that I’m ashamed of and days when I’m not sure of what I believe. But through all of that God is faithful.”

That is raw beauty. That is a heart striving for Christ. We are the light of the world. Us. You and me. And we are called to shine and show the world that Christ works through every day, weak, anxious, sinful, humans and makes them beautiful.

Enjoy these beautiful photographs sent it for the theme!

Photography by: Allie Rittle