When my husband showed me all of the “Let It Be” passages in the Bible, this was one of them, and I knew I had to share this with you girls! Consider this a little “Let It Be remix for chicks only.” Here is the verse:

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” 1 Peter 3:1-6

Peter is specifically speaking to wives here, but there is so much for all of us as women to learn in these verses. Basically, Peter is saying that the role of the wife is to submit to her own husband, to respect him, honor him, revere him, and love him the way God has called her to. And in this very action – without even saying a single word – the husband may be won over to obedience in Christ because of her faithfulness in serving and preferring him before herself. That’s huge! What an extreme difference can be made by being faithful in the “small” things.

Peter is reminding these women that this life is not only about making the outward appearance beautiful. He’s not telling women to completely ignore the outward, but he’s giving instructions to not let their lives consist of only that.

My husband and I just recently watched a TV special about a celebrity wedding that a few of our friends attended. The groom is a host on E News and the bride is a model. They are both believers and their story is spectacular. The bride, Lauren, was in a tragic accident three years ago which resulted in the loss of her left arm and left eye. She now has a prosthetic arm and eye, and looking at her, one would never know this had happened, she’s beautiful! But hearing her new husband, Jason Kennedy, talk about her just reminded me of this passage. He said that before he met her, he had heard of Lauren’s story, and was intrigued because she was a gorgeous girl. The fact that she could endure this accident and experience such extreme damage to her body, and still be so gracious and generous and kind and hardworking, blew him away, and he knew he wanted to marry a girl like that. Little did Jason know that he would actually get to marry this girl.

What an example Lauren is of this type of woman Peter is describing. She loves fashion and fitness, but she has such a heart of gold that far outweighs outward beauty.

And this is our call. Women of all ages and shapes and cultures and styles – we are invited to cultivate this inner beauty, which is what?

“…very precious in the sight of God.”

This “hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

I love that God looks at us as precious. He is a tender and loving Father who delights in us and smiles over us. And a woman who understands the value of inner beauty is truly a sight to behold. Specifically, a wife who lovingly and graciously serves and respects her husband with strength and confidence, this is precisely what a woman of strength and dignity and power looks like. Not domineering over a man, but knowing her call to complete and encourage the man God has given her.

So, sweet fresh life ladies (and everyone else of course!), in a world that overemphasizes physical beauty, remember your call – whether you’re married or not – to cultivate that kind of brave heart that God is searching for:

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

How do we get this loyal heart? How do we become more beautiful on the inside? Well, it’s first surrendering your life to God and receiving the gift that we celebrate this Christmas week, of His Son Jesus, sent into the world to rescue us and save us from our sins. When we are His, He is the One who is faithful to “complete the work He started in us until the day of Jesus Christ” meaning as He justified us and made us just as if we never sinned, He will also sanctify us (making us more and more like Jesus until we see Him face to face in Heaven). And then as we are reading the Bible and learning what God has for us to grow in, as we are planted in the House of the Lord – a thriving Bible teaching/Jesus worshipping church – we will always be learning and growing and seeing what God wants to accomplish within our hearts! In this we are able to ask God to change us, to grow us! And girls, this is a daily thing:

“although our outward [woman] is perishing, the inner [chick] is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 (I added those words in case you couldn’t tell)

It’s hard to see sometimes. We mess up, we sin, we fall down. All the time. But we repent. We get back up. And we fail well and keep on loving and keep on walking in His love. And you’ll see over time, that God is beautifying your soul. The Bible says He beautifies the humble with salvation (Psalm 149:4)! Dang that’s good!!

A verse that has been significant to me since my days in the depths of severe junior high acne – when I felt so ugly and unimportant on the outside – has been this:

“The Lord does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Lovely women, God loves you, He looks at you as precious and beautiful, He created you. Walk in His love. If you love fashion and health and fitness, go for it , they’re important (I want to be better at these things myself!), BUT Let It Be that your hidden person the heart, your gentle and quiet spirit – your beautiful, brave heart in Christ – shines through your life and actions and words even more brightly!

I love you girls so much! Happy New Year!