Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
 1 Peter 3:3-4

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7

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I have often wished I could be more like other women—in so many ways: appearance, family, personality. The list could go on. The writing industry says that authors need a social media presence. This is not my natural gift. I would much rather spend time with a friend at a coffee shop than talk to an unknown number of strangers online. But I want to be a writer, so I pursue an online presence anyway.

Many influencers have the perfect setup to create videos and online content. They know how to fix their hair, have camera-ready makeup, and exert their bubbly personalities through the screen. I am not one of those people. There is nothing wrong with presenting a put-together image, but it’s just not me. I have struggled with the lie that being less sophisticated makes me less impactful. But it’s simply not true. I can make an impact just as I am–and so can you.

God has created us all uniquely to share our gifts with the world. I could focus on what I’m not, but it’s much more productive to focus on who I am.  God has given me a quiet and gentle spirit. While it’s easy for me to highlight the downside of being shy and timid, I need to remember there is power in who God created me to be.

God made me who I am on purpose, with a purpose, and He made you that way too. The world may tell us we must look or act a certain way to be influential, but it’s not necessary. We can have an impact just as we are. In a world filled with noise, a gentle and quiet spirit can provide a place of rest. In an impulsive society, a gentle spirit can offer thoughtful wisdom. In a world focused on outward appearance, a gentle spirit can offer a gift that won’t fade away—an imprint on the heart.

We all have inner beauty—it just looks different. It is easy to compare ourselves to others, especially with the part we can see—our outward appearance. But it’s not what’s most important. When we embrace who we are and share that with the world, then we have the greatest impact. So, who did God create YOU to be?

Next Steps

Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal truths about who you are. Write one of those truths on a notecard and tape it to your bathroom mirror. Speak that truth over any lies coming your way.