July 23
More Than
Skin Deep
"Fancy hairstyles don’t make you beautiful. Wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes doesn’t make you beautiful. Instead, your beauty comes from inside you. It is the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Beauty like that will never fade. God places great value on it."
1 Peter 3:3-4, NIrV
Veronica had spent years perfecting her walk, her smile, and the way she held herself under the bright stage lights. Beauty pageants had been her world since she was a teenager, and now, in her twenties, she was on the verge of winning her biggest title yet. The Miss Grand State competition was everything she had worked for. The gym sessions, the strict diets, the endless fittings—it all led to this moment.
But as she stood backstage in her swimsuit, waiting for her name to be called, a strange unease settled in her chest. The panel of male judges sat at their table, pens in hand, their eyes scanning each contestant as they strutted across the stage. Veronica had done this a hundred times before, but tonight, it felt different.
She glanced at the other women, each one stunning in their own way, yet all of them being judged on nothing more than their outward appearance. Was this really what defined her? The thought made her stomach turn.
A voice in her head whispered a verse she had read weeks ago: “Your beauty comes from inside you.” She had dismissed it then—after all, in her world, beauty was about flawless skin, toned legs, and the perfect posture. But now, standing there in nothing but a bikini, she felt exposed in a way she never had before.
As she stepped onto the stage, the cameras flashed, and applause filled the room. She forced a smile, but her heart was pounding for a different reason. Was this what God wanted for her? To be paraded and scored like a prize to be won? She had worked so hard to look beautiful on the outside, but for the first time, she wondered—had she neglected the beauty that really mattered?
That night, after the competition, Veronica sat in her hotel room, the tiara she had fought for now feeling meaningless. She pulled out her phone and searched for the verse again. “The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit… will never fade.” As tears welled in her eyes, she whispered a prayer. God, help me see myself the way You see me.
In that moment, she realized something powerful—true beauty wasn’t found in makeup, gowns, or crowns. It was found in kindness, humility, and a heart devoted to God. And no judge in the world could ever take that away from her.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding me that my worth is not found in my appearance, but in my heart.
Help me to focus on the beauty that never fades—the beauty of a spirit that honors You.
Teach me to let go of the world's standards and embrace the value You have placed within me.
May I walk in confidence, knowing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
