Why I Gave Up Makeup For Lent

I approached this current Lent season not entirely sure if I was called to give up anything. Usually I use Lent to kick whatever "addictions" I might be struggling with (in the past, I've given up soda and Facebook). But this year, I didn't really feel like I had anything that needed to be given up, until I had an in-depth conversation with several friends back in February. We were going around in a circle, affirming each other and calling out areas that we thought each other could improve in (I have THE best friends ever). One of my friends asked me if I had ever surrendered my beauty to the Lord. To be quite honest, I didn't even know what that meant! So I took some time with God alone and asked Him what it meant to surrender my beauty. I wanted a tangible way to do this, because it seemed like such a vague concept! The only thing that He brought to mind was giving up makeup for Lent. This was a really hard decision to make because my skin has not been the best recently, and choosing to not wear makeup in public felt incredibly vulnerable. But I've been so supported by all my friends and they've been so faithful in texting me verses of truth and encouragement and by always telling me how beautiful I look. Among the many verses that I've received are a few of my favorites: 1 Peter 3:3-4, "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 fo a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God", Psalm 34:5, "They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed", Song of Songs 4:7, "You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you", and Romans 8:6, "For to set your mind on the flesh is death, but to set your mind on the Spirit is life and peace". There have definitely been days where I've looked in the mirror and wanted nothing more than to just cover it all up with makeup. But every time that urge comes, I get to turn to the Lord and ask Him what He thinks about me... and He never disappoints me! He's covered my vulnerability so many times, I can't help but trust Him! So this Lent has definitely been the most vulnerable season yet, but I've been learning to trust God more and more and lean on His faithfulness in a new way.

Here I am in all my natural glory!