Shortly after showing our last music video, I got a painful stye on my eyelid. A stye is just a pimple or a skin irritation – but on your eyelid. My eyelid swelled up, lasting for a week! I was slightly devastated when I realized that all my makeup had to be replaced and eye makeup completely avoided…

I didn’t realize how much I relied on makeup to feel beautiful, until I had to go without.

I told myself I would wait a couple weeks and then get back to my regular routine of loading on the eye makeup. Well, that didn’t happen. At my first attempt to wear makeup again, my eyelid reacted. So, I wasn’t just facing a “break” from eye make up, I had to prepare it give it up indefinitely.

I had to trade the ‘new look’ with my original look. The one God gave me from the beginning.

Over the next few weeks, I began to dig in the Word of God to find out what He says about my beauty. I needed the reminder during the no-makeup phase. What did I discover? A treasure chest of truth about our radiance that surpasses skin level.

God has a lot to say about your beauty.

…And so does our culture. The world is constantly sending us messages that we’re not enough unless we re-create ourselves to look like someone else. This is a lie – straight up.

Since I am God’s daughter, there is nothing more I can add to myself to be made complete. I am enough because of Him, not because of mascara, or anything else. God has already given me everything I need to be beautiful, whole and to shine for Him. In Christ, I am complete. (See Colossians 2:10)

God isn’t waiting for me to put on mascara to be presentable to Him. Jesus Christ has already made me presentable to God. He did this when He gave His life on the cross, so that we could be restored to relationship with God. We can experience His love, and know that we are made to reflect the image of God. It’s Jesus we have to thank for this!

This truth has revolutionized how I see my reflection, when I look in the mirror (with or without makeup!). The perfect kindness and love of Christ is the priceless gift I have received and get to offer to people. Jesus has given me hope and peace to know that I am more than my appearance.

Instead of spending hours worrying about my hair, makeup, wardrobe, or anything else, I have become more concerned with shining His beauty to others around me. Romans calls this, ‘putting on Christ’: “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 13:14)

He is the truest beauty that I have.

Elissa