When our lives seem hopeless, how do we go on? In her heartfelt essay “From Darkness to Light: Discovering Beauty in Jesus,” Andrea Brown reveals a way through the despair as Jesus redeems her.

“For years, I covered myself with fig leaves, lies I told myself about myself, lies I told others so they wouldn’t get a glimpse of the real me.” Andrea Brown #Christianbeauty #Encouragement #IdentityinChrist #innerbeauty
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From Darkness to Light: Discovering Beauty in Jesus

When Deborah asked me to write the Behold-Her Beauty series, I was immediately humbled and honored and then a bit nervous. My past is filled with years of insecurity, perfectionism, and body dysmorphia, which led to anorexia and bulimia, all rooted in a lack of identity. For years, I covered myself with fig leaves, lies I told myself about myself, lies I told others so they wouldn’t get a glimpse of the real me. All of which stemmed from incomplete knowledge and understanding of the person of Jesus and, at the very root, unbelief in His love for me.

As a young African American girl growing up in the 80s in the suburbs of sunny Southern California, I didn’t feel “dark enough” for the African American community or “light enough” in my Caucasian neighborhood. Though a social butterfly and accepted, I felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I desired to straighten my hair, be thin, layout, and get a tan because all my friends did it. But my hair was too curly; I had too many curves, and my skin was dark.

I identify with the Shulamite, “Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!” Song of Solomon 1:6 ESV.

The Concept of Beauty

The concept of beauty has fascinated humanity for centuries. However, in my journey, I discovered beauty can only be found, thus defined, by the One who is altogether lovely. ” His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!” Song of Solomon 5:16 NKJV.

We often struggle to see and appreciate true beauty in a world obsessed with outward appearances. Yet, as Christians, we are invited to find the essence of beauty not in the mirror but in the face of Jesus. The word of God is an invitation into divine loveliness. Through its verses, we learn to behold Jesus and see ourselves as He sees us: altogether beautiful, altering the trajectory of our lives.

“You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.”
Song of Solomon 4:7 ESV

These words remind us that we are seen as flawless in Christ. Our identity is rooted in His love and perfection, not our imperfections or the world’s standards. Embracing this truth helps us see ourselves correctly, as beloved and beautiful in His sight.

Healing By Beauty

Jesus gently and lovingly pulled back layers of hurt, trauma, and heartache in my journey. He wooed me into laying the fig leaves of self-righteousness down by carefully shedding the light of the truth on my brokenness while breathing life into these barren places. He brought healing and restoration, whereby I am no longer a shadow of my former self, or even becoming my best self, but completely reborn, a new creation fashioned by His nail-pierced hands, enabled by His Spirit to bear fruit to God.

The Essence of Beauty

Therefore, I find the essence of beauty is love, and we see this magnificently embodied in the Beloved. As 1 John 4:8 states, “…God is love.” In His presence, we encounter a profound love that transforms and redeems, giving beauty for ashes.

“To grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3 ESV

Through His sacrifice, we find the ultimate expression of beauty—His willingness to lay down His life for us.

“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.”
Isaiah 53:10-11 ESV

Christ’s beauty is experienced through love emitted as the light that dispels the darkness within us. It is a healing balm for our wounds and a source of strength in our weakness. His love is not contingent upon our performance or worthiness but is given freely and abundantly—this is grace, the heart of God, and He is most wonderful.

His life, actions, and love exemplify the true essence of beauty, and He causes us to become reflections of Him in a world longing for redemption and hope. Through Jesus, we discover that beauty is not just skin-deep but penetrates the soul, brings forth life, and transforms us into His likeness, filled with His Spirit.

When we look upon Jesus, we see the ultimate standard of beauty. His love is the measure by which all other loves are weighed; therefore, beauty is filtered through the lens of His life. In His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, we see the depth of His love and the lengths He would go to redeem us. This is the beauty that beholds us, drawing us closer to Him and transforming us from the inside out. We are made whole in His presence, and His beauty becomes our own, allowing us to reflect His glory in all we do.

Scriptural Meditation

Contemplate how the word transforms you into the likeness of Jesus. “That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:26-27 ESV.

Ponder the connection between the beautiful internal work the Lord is doing and how it is displayed through your life before the world. “…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:28-29 ESV.

Conclusion

In a world that often distorts the concept of beauty, the word of God brings us back to the heart of it all: Jesus. He is the epitome of beauty, and by seeing Him, we learn to see ourselves as beautiful. As we meditate on His loveliness, may we embrace our identity in Him and live out the truth that we are altogether lovely. May your heart be encouraged and your spirit lifted as you seek to behold Jesus and discover your true beauty in Him.

Behold Her Beauty Journal Prompts

What areas of your life do you need God’s healing touch? How can you allow His beauty to replace the ashes of your past hurts and struggles?

How can you shift your focus from outward appearance to the condition of your heart? What steps can you take to cultivate inner beauty?

How does beholding the beauty of Jesus transform your understanding of true beauty? How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for His loveliness daily?

How does gazing upon the glory of the Lord transform you into His image? What practical ways can you incorporate this practice into your routine?

How does understanding that God is love and that He loved us first impact your view of yourself and others? How can you let His love transform your heart and actions?

Meet Our Author: Andrea Brown

Hi, I am Andrea Brown. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, registered nurse, and aspiring writer. Passionate about the Gospel of Jesus, I love sharing His grace with others through my writing.

Despite becoming a Christian early in life, I struggled with a works-based faith, which fueled an identity crisis built on self-sufficiency and pride, leading to self-harm. I discovered the true message of grace through Joseph Prince’s book Destined to Reign.

This revelation led to a love for the word of God and the start of my blog, TheOneThing1.org, where I share gleanings from my Bible study journey. I just launched my podcast, Seed For The Soul, where we endeavor to sow seeds of faith and expect a harvest of His grace.

My mission is to make Jesus known, encourage the saints in the faith, and make heaven crowded.

You can find out more about my journey at [The One Thing 1](https://www.theonething1.org/about and my podcast Seed For The Soul

Remember, you are Beautiful!

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