Any new wrinkles lately?

Girlfriend, I can relate.

I’ve wondered, and I’m sure you have too, why God designed these jars-of-clay bodies to age.

We spend time and money trying to turn back time—trying to hold on to a more youthful appearance. It’s pretty ironic really. It’s like trying to go back to our old self when we were younger.

I know not everyone feels this way, but be honest, “age appropriate” isn’t a warm and fuzzy phrase.  Some would call it vanity, but it’s okay to make ourselves presentable, as long as it doesn’t become all-consuming.

So what does the Bible say about appearance?

The verses in 1 Peter 3:3-4 say this:

Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

True beauty comes from the inside out. It won’t matter what shade of lipstick we’re wearing if our lips are flapping gossip and unkind words.

The verse in 1 Peter isn’t meant to deter us from braiding our hair or wearing jewelry, it’s meant to remind us what true beauty is and what truly matters to God.

Besides the regimen of facial cleansers and moisturizers, there’s that whole exercise thing. Staying healthy is important, and regular exercise is a must. But let’s be sure we’re exercising for health and not merely appearance.

Here’s a verse with that word exercise in it. It’s found in 1 Timothy 4:8…

 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

While this verse is comparing how exercising self-denial of certain foods, denying the flesh as in tradition, etc.,  profits little compared to exercising godliness by resisting and repenting of sin, the word still has to do with our bodies.  It profits us little to do 50 sit-ups a day when we aren’t exercising our spiritual health.

That’s not to say God doesn’t care about our physical bodies. He absolutely does. He meets our every need.

He provided Manna in the wilderness when the Israelite’s needed nourishment. It was a physical substance from the spiritual divine. The combination of meeting a physical and a spiritual need. Food provided by God because God is our Provider.

God cares about our overall fitness, the physical and the spiritual. He provides physical and spiritual strength.

I guess we could call it seasonal strength. He gives us the strength to do whatever we are called to do, in whatever season of life we find ourselves in. And God isn’t as concerned with age as we are. He chooses to use us for His purposes at any age. Isn’t that encouraging?

Let’s not miss what God has for us today. Divine appointments and incredible interactions with God are right before our eyes. Like Manna.

We want people to notice Jesus in us. When our beauty comes from the inside out, it radiates so brightly a few wrinkles won’t even be noticed.

And what’s even lovelier than a woman aging gracefully?

A woman who ages, full of grace.

Share your thoughts.

Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.  Isaiah 46:4