YOU DON’T KNOW HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE | Worthy of Love

“What was the nicest thing Uncle Tom ever said to you?”

Aunt JoAnn stared into her coffee cup, searching for the answer. Then looked up with dancing eyes.

“You don’t know how beautiful you are.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, letting the words sink in.

Her husband had been gone for many years, but his words still rang true. The one who knew her best and loved her longest knew something that she didn’t.

JoAnn was a rare treasure—someone worth loving every day of his life.

Even at 87, she’s a looker and hasn’t a clue.

I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with this dear woman for 42 years—laughing over sudsy sinks, crying at open coffins, and blessing the next generation as they romp through the yard.

JoAnn’s beauty quietly holds the family together as her own heart breaks apart.

Yet she doesn’t see herself that way.

Most of us can’t see past where we fall short.

We don’t know how beautiful we are.

We try our best, but fear our worst.

We fail, and feel so ugly.

We quietly hold it together; our hearts breaking for who we aren’t.

Because we think our worth depends on some pie-in-the-sky perfect performance.

But value is determined by the price someone’s willing to pay for our rescue.

Jesus paid for you with His own blood.

As God, He could have called the whole deal off. He had the power. He had the right. But His love couldn’t look away.

Before you gulped one ounce of air, Jesus declared you breathtaking.

So, that’s who you are.

Your life isn’t a tragedy; it’s a love story.

For you, He endured the ugly agony. For you, He bore the naked shame.

Every thorn, every lash, every nail was nothing compared to the thought of spending one more day without you.

“For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2b)

My dear, dear broken believer, never forget: You are His joy.

Jesus despised sin’s shame, so nothing can come between you.

Jesus kept His eyes on you, so keep your eyes on Him.

No matter how short you fell yesterday, you can look in the mirror today.

You can see yourself forgiven and worthy of love, because that’s how God now sees you:

“You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” (S. of Solomon 4:6)

Of all the things Jesus wants you to know, it’s how beautiful you are to Him.

You’re the love of His life.

You’re the apple of His eye.

When doubts come (and they will), return to the cross of Christ.

There, we see our true worth.

Through the eyes of the One who knows us best and loves us longest, we begin to see how beautiful we are.