Women are wired with a desire to reveal beauty. Now there are days (and I don’t think I’m alone) when 4:30 rolls around and I’m still in my “comfy clothes”… ok fine – PJ’s. But I will bust out my best effort to actually USE my curling iron, put on something that resembles fashion and pretend it was effortless for when my hubs walks in the door. Because he is hot. In my world he is Zeus and I am Aphrodite. So dang it, my hair will be curled. Women love to reveal beauty. And whether done disastrously or desirably it’s a legitimate longing. It is because beauty – real beauty – is a characteristic of God that he designed us with which carries tremendous significance. If you read my post: Crop Tops and Aging Gracefully, then you know I’m not just talking about beauty as and evaluation of our physical appeal (despite the curling iron reference); but something additional, something eternal. And we yearn to reveal because we yearn to know and be known.
Beauty points to life – it’s a breath of fresh air to a world choking on the pollution of the ugliness of evil and despair! Considering the brokenness in our world that lends itself to bitterness and anger and resentment, it’s no wonder beauty is so desired – beauty is redemptive. So remember this ladies, you are breathtaking. Gentlemen, your effort with us communicates your opinion of our worth. Women – the value that you perceive yourselves to carry will be reflected in your requirements for revelation. Ladies… (deep sigh), when we reveal our hearts and our beauty indiscriminately, we belittle the glory within us. We sorely misunderstand who we are created in the image of. We throw our pearls to pigs. And that is desperately tragic.
I went to a bachelorette party for a friend of mine just out of college. I happened to run into an old boyfriend (ugh, seriously. But don’t worry; my friends confirmed I looked good – you get me on this one). He half-heartedly walked up, interrupted a conversation, and said something witty and alluring like, “heeeyyy.” (Ok, you are not the Fonz). “Uh, so, uh, can I get your number?” umm. Nope.
Then there was Brandon (happy sigh). When Brandon pursued me, I felt wanted. He was intentional and thoughtful. And as I got to know him my heart became wrapped up in his. I knew he was a busy and brilliant man, but he elevated me to a prioritization in his life that made me want to respond. The quality of his pursuit and genuine interest in knowing me was rewarded. I couldn’t wait to say yes when he asked me to marry him. Quality investment parallels the earning capacity of quality revelation.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” – Jeremiah 33:3
Just as we long to be pursued and wanted, so does God. And this longing does not make him weak, or needy, or desperate. God longs to reveal himself to you, but he won’t force himself on you, he won’t overshare. The gift of his revelation hinges on our drive to seek it out. And people – he doesn’t want to be known because he needs it from you – but because he LOVES you. And knowing him will always invite what’s best for our lives. He gives us alluring tidbits that leave us breathless in the wake of his glory. When we look out into the beauty of a silver speckled night sky or witness the torrential rush of Niagra Falls, we’re captivated for the moment – are we not? Something in our hearts awakens in the presence of beauty. And it is meant to drive us to the source. It compels us to interact. And the same standard applies here – while God longs to reveal, the depth in which we know him hinges on our investment into him. We don’t offer personal and intimate glimpses into our hearts unless there’s a worthy effort invested, right? We want genuine intrigue, sacrificial prioritization – we want romance. Likewise, why would God reveal great truths and intimate knowledge of his heart on matters if we are casually inquiring at best? It would be insulting to assume it!
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,…” – Jeremiah 29:12-13a
I had a friend who upon anticipation of a coming proposal asked me if I actually thought I knew everything there was to know about Brandon. “No. I suppose not everything. But I know enough. I know enough to know I want to spend the rest of my life with him.” And he’s just a man! Guys, I am compelled to admit that because we are human and we are talking about God, we quite honestly will not know everything about him in our lifetime. But this is not a reason to withhold a commitment to him. If we were to know everything about him, he wouldn’t be God – he wouldn’t be worth worshiping if we could wrap our minds around all that he is. But I promise you this – if you ask him to reveal himself to you, he delights in saying “YES!”