The world exalts outward beauty, thin veneer of polish, and razzle-dazzle charisma. But Jesus has always delighted in those who may not look impressive outwardly yet know Him and shine out from the inside with His righteousness and love. Let Him in, let Him live big on the inside of you.
Did you know that babies are now judging us? They always have.
* Infant studies show that babies as young as 3–6 months consistently gaze longer at faces adults consider attractive than at less attractive ones (Langlois et al., 1987).
* Another study found that infants just a few days old already show a preference for symmetrical faces—something often tied to cultural ideas of beauty.
* Psychologists estimate that within 7 seconds of seeing someone, adults form a first impression—most often based on appearance, not character.
From the cradle to adulthood, humanity is wired to prize the outside appearance. But God flips this around: “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Where even babies notice faces, God notices faith. Where we are drawn to symmetry, God is drawn to surrender.
Do you have youth and good looks today.. or not so much? Do you have something that you can use to glorify God? What do you have to use?
1. David had his harp and his sling (1 Samuel 17)
David didn’t have a sword, armor, or military training. All he had was a shepherd’s sling and faith in the Lord. With that, he faced Goliath and declared, “The battle is the Lord’s.” His humble tool became the means of glorifying God before Israel and the Philistines.
2. The widow with a jar of oil (2 Kings 4:1–7)
This woman had almost nothing but a little oil. When Elisha told her to gather vessels, God multiplied what she already had, filling every jar. She used her meager portion to glorify God through obedience, and it became her provision and testimony.
3. The boy with five loaves and two fish (John 6:1–14)
A child handed over his small lunch to Jesus. In the Master’s hands, it fed thousands. The boy’s little offering became a great sign, glorifying Christ as the Bread of Life.
4. Moses had his staff (Exodus 4, 14)
Moses’ shepherd’s staff, an ordinary stick, became the instrument through which God worked wonders—turning the Nile to blood, parting the Red Sea, and bringing water from a rock. Moses obeyed and lifted what he had, and God was glorified.
5. The poor widow with two mites (Mark 12:41–44)
Though her offering was tiny compared to the wealthy, she gave all she had. Jesus praised her act, teaching that her sacrifice glorified God more than the abundance of others.
6. Paul had a lot of learning and sufferings (Philippians 3; Acts 9)
Paul, once a persecutor, surrendered his brilliant mind, Roman citizenship, and even his trials to Christ. He used his intellect for teaching, his background for spreading the gospel to Gentiles, and his hardships to magnify God’s grace.
7. Hannah with her son Samuel (1 Samuel 1)
Hannah longed for a child, and when God gave her Samuel, she dedicated him back to the Lord. By offering her most precious gift, she glorified God in her faithfulness.
God often asks us to use whatever He’s already placed in our hands—be it small, ordinary, large.. too large, or even painful—and when surrendered, He multiplies it for His glory.
God doesn’t need what we don’t have; He calls us to give what we do have. He primarily wants you. Who or what will you give your heart to?
What’s in your hand today? Time? A skill? A resource? A pain? A testimony?
“Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
"Though outwardly we waste away, inwardly we are renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16
Abraham Lincoln, considered awkward and unattractive in appearance, was admired for his integrity, compassion, and steadfast leadership during America’s darkest hours.
Isaiah’s “Suffering Servant” (that's the Messianic prophecy regarding Jesus) – Isaiah 53:2-3. “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”
Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s son) – 2 Samuel 4:4; 9:3. Crippled in both feet after an accident. While not described as “ugly,” he would have been looked down upon as weak and undesirable in that culture. Yet he found grace with David, who honored him for Jonathan’s sake.
Jeremiah – Jeremiah 38:6; Lamentations 3. Known as the “weeping prophet,” beaten, imprisoned, and scarred by hardship. Likely gaunt and unattractive in appearance, but righteous in his obedience to God.
Timothy (unhealthy and unimpressive) – 1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 1:7. Yes, Paul exhorts him for his timidness and weak stomach. Outwardly frail, but spiritually faithful, entrusted with shepherding the church.
“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
* Studies show 87% of people form first impressions in less than 7 seconds—mostly based on appearance.
* Yet the Bible flips this: God weighs the heart (See Proverbs 21:2).
* When outward appearances fade, a person’s good character and godliness remain as eternal treasures (1 Peter 3:3–4).
God delights to use those overlooked by man to fulfill His greatest purposes.
Leah steps onto the pages of Scripture as a shadowed figure beside her radiant sister Rachel.
What can we learn from her (in Genesis 29:17)? The Bible says Leah’s eyes were “weak” or “delicate,” compared to Rachel who was strikingly beautiful. Yet Leah became the mother of Judah—the line of the Messiah. God honored her faith and gave her a noble legacy.
See Genesis 29:17 tells us simply, “Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face.” That one comparison seems to carve a wound that Leah bore all her life. Imagine her at the family well: Rachel’s beauty drew admiring glances, while Leah, with her pale eyes and plain features, faded into the background. In a culture that prized outward beauty, Leah was overlooked, perhaps even pitied.
Yet God saw the whole person. Where men measured beauty by symmetry and sparkle, the Lord gazed upon her unseen tears. Leah was not glamorous, but she was chosen to be the mother of nations. From her womb would come Levi—the priestly tribe—and Judah, through whom the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ, would come. The Messiah’s lineage ran not through Rachel, the really admired, but through Leah, the ignored.
Picture her on her wedding night, given to Jacob in disguise. Yikes, unfair. She longed for her husband’s love, but his heart already belonged to another. Perhaps night after night, Leah whispered her pain into the darkness. God bent low to listen. “When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, He opened her womb” (Genesis 29:31).
With each son born, Leah’s heart revealed her journey: first crying out for her husband’s affection, but at last resting in God’s full approval. With the birth of Judah she declared, “This time I will praise the Lord” (Genesis 29:35).
Leah may not have drawn admiration for her outward beauty, but she won God’s attention for her faith. Her life preaches loudly in our world today -- that inward beauty—trusting God when unwanted, praising Him in loneliness—is more precious than precious jewels. Think about this again.. Centuries later, Jesus would trace His earthly lineage not through the beautiful Rachel, but through Leah, the one unloved by man yet greatly cherished by God.
Cultivating an Inward Beauty in a right relationship with the Father and Christ is more important than that cool outward look the world lauds.
Job was a Broken Man, A Crushed Vessel That Ended Up Shining Bright
When we first meet Job, he is the picture of prosperity—wealthy, respected, surrounded by family. But within a few chapters, his body becomes a canvas of suffering. “Satan.. struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7). Imagine the sores covering every inch of him, raw and oozing, his skin unrecognizable.
Friends who once admired him could hardly bear to look at him; they sat in silence for seven days because his disfigurement and grief were too great for words (Job 2:12–13).
Paul was frail. He sure wasn’t the kind of man to make a strong first impression.
The Corinthians mocked him: “His bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account” (2 Corinthians 10:10). Early church tradition suggests he was short, balding, bow-legged, with a hooked nose and weak eyesight. In Galatians 4:15, Paul even reminded them of the time they cared for him despite his “trial in the flesh”—likely an eye condition that left him unattractive, even repulsive.
Yet this seemingly frail man carried a strength that toppled empires. His words, born out of weakness, carried divine fire. He planted churches, penned Scripture, and endured beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, and prison with unshakable resolve. Paul embodied God’s truth: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Outwardly unimpressive, Paul inwardly radiated Christ’s glory. He proved that God delights in using cracked clay pots to pour out eternal treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7). His life whispers to us: don’t measure yourself by the mirror, but by the Spirit within.
Job wasn't a looker either, and not so healthy (Job 2:7). For a time Job’s body was covered with painful sores; his appearance must have been dreadful. Yet God called him “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1). His inward beauty—faith, patience, and reverence—outshone his outward affliction.
Outwardly, Job was a wreck of a man—scraping his sores with broken pottery, sitting in ashes. But inwardly? He was a giant of faith. When everything was stripped away, Job’s voice rose from cracked lips to declare, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). In his ugliest hour, Job’s heart glowed with the rare beauty of perseverance. And in the end, God restored him, but more importantly, Job left us a testimony that inward faith is stronger than outward ruin.
Many of the North Dallas folk I know aim for a classy sophisticated Brooks Brothers type of modesty today.
The phrase "beauty for ashes" is based on Isaiah 61:3, emphasizing God's ability to bring restoration and beauty out of difficult circumstances and horrible human failure.
True beauty, especially for us, lies not in outward appearance but in cultivating inner qualities that reflect God's character.
Inner Beauty over Outer Beauty:
We all need to encourage prioritizing inner beauty over outward. It's defined by a gentle and quiet spirit, over focusing on hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or clothing choices.
Winsome Modesty and Self-Respect:
Let's elaborate on this good concept of modesty more -- cuz in Jesus it honors God.
Purpose and God's Design:
You were created with purpose and intention to know God and reflect God's light.. his image even, not as an afterthought or for the sole purpose of garnering external validation or "likes".
There is regeneration, and the beautiful transformation of ongoing sanctification through Christ alone:
For those who feel their lives (via poor personal decisions, I mean all the sinning done for various reasons) have turned into a "pile of ashes," please know this: coming to Christ on His terms brings free forgiveness, turning your brokenness into the beauty of a powerful testimony.
He lovingly does that. It's who He is, a true friend of sinners like you and me.
"He had no beauty that we should desire him" is found in Isaiah 53:2.
That's part of a prophecy about the suffering servant referring to Jesus Christ.
The verse describes Him as having "no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him". But He gives beauty for your ashes!
- "For he grew up before him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him," Isaiah 53:2 esv
We opt to ditch the world's inferior ways for Him with His far Superior ways.
Modesty avoids the indecency, sleazy or sluty looking impropriety.
We wouldn't even have known this if all the colored-hair people hadn't totally freaked out about her, but Miss Sydney Sweeney has now shown the USA that the fat, ugly model era is behind us now, "and the earth is healing" says my wife. Hah!
The Gospel’s Beauty, It Not Some Cheap Makeover
True beauty begins where the world never thinks to look—deep inside a heart remade by the grace of God. The Gospel doesn’t start by smoothing wrinkles or changing your outward image. It starts with a holy resurrection and from scratch renovation of the soul, a complete cleansing and re-creation that inevitably shines through your eyes, your voice, your touch.
Live Clothed in Christ
Clothed in Him, yes, not in pride or worldly show,
But robed in grace Christ gives;
A gentle heart, by mercy made,
In Him forever lives.
Like Ruth who served with steady hand,
Or Esther, calm and true;
Such beauty shines when self has died,
And Christ is all in view.
The world’s applause will fade away,
Its treasures turn to dust;
But those who walk with Christ each day
Find beauty that won’t rust.
O Lord, adorn us with Your grace,
Our hearts to You belong;
Until we stand before Your face,
And join the heav’nly song.
- Isaiah 53:2:"For he grew up before him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him," esv.
- Interpretation:This verse suggests that Jesus's physical appearance was not remarkable or attractive in a way that would draw people to him.
This is not charm that deceives or beauty that fades; it is the glow of Christ Himself dwelling within.
Beauty Within – When Christ takes hold of a life, He plants His own character inside. Love replaces resentment. Humility silences pride. Patience outlasts provocation. Barna’s research has shown that genuine, observable transformation in believers’ attitudes and actions remains one of the most persuasive proofs of the Gospel in an unbelieving world. As the Holy Spirit shapes us, the fruit of the Spirit ripens into a soul so radiant that even strangers sense the difference.
Beauty That Spills Over – Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16). When inner beauty burns brightly, it’s impossible to hide. You find yourself serving without recognition, forgiving without keeping score, and loving people who cannot repay you. I once met an elderly widow in a rural church whose face bore more wrinkles than smooth lines—but her kindness drew people like a fire on a cold night. Her life preached a better sermon than most pulpits.
Beauty Freed From Chains – The Gospel washes away shame and regret, replacing them with the unshakable assurance that there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). The past no longer defines you; Christ’s love does. That freedom makes a soul beautiful in ways the world cannot counterfeit.
Beauty With a Horizon – Those who belong to Jesus carry a hope the world can’t steal. It is the quiet confidence that death has lost its sting, that tomorrow is already secured in Christ’s victory. Like the hymn says, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.”
The Gospel’s beauty is not fragile makeup—it’s a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). God’s Spirit works from the inside out until even your countenance reflects His love. As Amy Carmichael once wrote, “A pure heart makes a shining face.”
This is beauty precious in God’s sight—beauty that compels, convinces, and calls others to the Savior. And no poet, preacher, or evangelist can fully exaggerate the glory of such love, for it is truly beyond the reach of language.
The world spends a lot on outward beauty. Intimacy with Jesus as Friend and Lord fills that inner void.
See John 15:15 – Jesus calls us friends when we obey His commands. Friendship with Christ means honesty in prayer, joy in His presence, and trust in His wisdom.
The Gospel’s Beauty Makeover
True beauty begins where the world never thinks to look—deep inside a heart remade by the grace of God. The Gospel doesn’t start by smoothing wrinkles or changing your outward image. It starts with a holy renovation of the soul, a cleansing and re-creation that inevitably shines through your eyes, your voice, your touch.
The Bible calls this the hidden person of the heart… the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious (1 Peter 3:4). This is not charm that deceives or beauty that fades; it is the glow of Christ Himself dwelling within.
Beauty Within – When Christ takes hold of a life, He plants His own character inside. Love replaces resentment. Humility silences pride. Patience outlasts provocation. Barna’s research has shown that genuine, observable transformation in believers’ attitudes and actions remains one of the most persuasive proofs of the Gospel in an unbelieving world. As the Holy Spirit shapes us, the fruit of the Spirit ripens into a soul so radiant that even strangers sense the difference.
Beauty That Spills Over – Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16). When inner beauty burns brightly, it’s impossible to hide. You find yourself serving without recognition, forgiving without keeping score, and loving people who cannot repay you. I once met an elderly widow in a rural church whose face bore more wrinkles than smooth lines—but her kindness drew people like a fire on a cold night. Her life preached a better sermon than most pulpits.
Beauty Freed From Chains – The Gospel washes away shame and regret, replacing them with the unshakable assurance that there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). The past no longer defines you; Christ’s love does. That freedom makes a soul beautiful in ways the world cannot counterfeit.
Beauty With a Horizon – Those who belong to Jesus carry a hope the world can’t steal. It is the quiet confidence that death has lost its sting, that tomorrow is already secured in Christ’s victory. Like the hymn says, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.”
The Gospel’s beauty is not fragile makeup—it’s a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). God’s Spirit works from the inside out until even your countenance reflects His love. As Amy Carmichael once wrote, “A pure heart makes a shining face.”
This is beauty precious in God’s sight—beauty that compels, convinces, and calls others to the Savior. And no poet, preacher, or evangelist can fully exaggerate the glory of such love, for it is truly beyond the reach of language.
If you’d like, I can also give you a short, 3–4 sentence “pocket version” you could use as a quote or teaser for this. Would you like me to do that?
He trades our ashes for a crown if we obey Him,
Our trembling for His might;
He pours in His gladness where we’ve wept,
His real peace into our night.
When sorrow drapes its heavy cloak,
And shadows press you down,
There is a full healing yet to come when we see him face to face, and..
Of joy that will abound.
When guilt would chain your steps in place,
And fear would guard the door,
His mercy breaks the prison locks—
You’re a captive there nevermore.
For once I wandered, far from home,
But He with His grace came seeking me..yes.. to set me free;
The chains I wore fell at His feet.. free,
And now I walk freely in peace.
God gives beauty for ashes...
The Gospel’s Beauty—Not a Cheap Makeover
True modesty is more than a refined wardrobe or well-mannered restraint—it is the natural overflow of a life made pure by Christ. Yes, modesty guards against the indecent, the suggestive, and the improper, but it also springs from something far deeper: a heart transformed by grace.
The Gospel’s beauty begins where the eye cannot see—deep within a soul reborn. It is not the smoothing of wrinkles, the tailoring of garments, or the application of polish. It is a holy resurrection of the inner person—a cleansing and renewal so complete that it changes not just the way you look, but the way you see, speak, and live.
Scripture calls this “the hidden person of the heart… the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1 Peter 3:4). This beauty does not wither with time nor fade under life’s pressures; it is the radiance of Christ Himself shining through.
When Christ takes hold of a life, love replaces bitterness, humility silences pride, and purity flows into every corner of daily living. It’s the beauty that causes even strangers to take notice—not because of perfection in style, but because of the unmistakable presence of Jesus in the soul.
The Gospel’s Beauty—Not a Cheap Makeover
True modesty is more than a refined wardrobe or well-mannered restraint—it is the natural overflow of a life made pure by Christ. Yes, modesty guards against the indecent, the suggestive, and the improper, but it also springs from something far deeper: a heart transformed by grace.
The Gospel’s beauty begins where the eye cannot see—deep within a soul reborn. It is not the smoothing of wrinkles, the tailoring of garments, or the application of polish. It is a holy resurrection of the inner person—a cleansing and renewal so complete that it changes not just the way you look, but the way you see, speak, and live.
Scripture calls this “the hidden person of the heart… the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1 Peter 3:4). This beauty does not wither with time nor fade under life’s pressures; it is the radiance of Christ Himself shining through.
When Christ takes hold of a life, love replaces bitterness, humility silences pride, and purity flows into every corner of daily living. Even strangers notice—not because of perfection in style, but because of the unmistakable presence of Jesus in the soul.
* Beauty That Overflows – Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16). When inner beauty burns bright, it spills into words seasoned with grace, kindness offered without agenda, and service that seeks no applause. This is not trend-driven beauty; it is timeless, like a well-cut garment that never goes out of style.
* Beauty Freed From Shadows – The Gospel releases us from the bondage of past shame. In Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1)—only forgiveness, acceptance, and newness of life. A believer walking in that freedom carries a lightness of spirit that is far more attractive than any outward ornament.
* Beauty With an Eternal Horizon – Earthly beauty fades, but the one who is clothed in Christ will shine forever. There is a steady, quiet confidence in those who know their eternal future is secure, and that assurance becomes part of their countenance. As the old hymn declares, “It is well with my soul.”
At the end of the day, the Gospel’s beauty is not a surface touch-up job but a complete re-creation. It is God’s masterpiece, a life so changed by His grace that it reflects His glory in ways both subtle and striking. And this beauty—precious in His sight—is the kind that never goes out of fashion.
