“Why do you want to wear more makeup?” I asked.

Kylie reflected a moment and said, “Well, I’ve noticed that the girls who wear more makeup seem . . . sophisticated, I guess, and the boys seem to pay more attention to them.” She blushed.

“Kylie, women today feel all kinds of pressure—especially the pressure to feel beautiful. We think we have to look a certain way and be a certain weight to be accepted and valued. God wants you to accept yourself just the way He made you. Makeup is just something to add a little pizzazz. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to look perfect all the time. Focus on developing your inner beauty, not just dressing up what’s already beautiful on the outside.”

“I know,” she said, smiling. I was glad she and I had a relationship where we could talk about things that were important to her.

First Samuel 16:7 says it best: “Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” While we should make an effort to look our best, God doesn’t want us to be consumed with our outward appearance.

The enemy is constantly trying to get us to doubt our true worth. But God wants us to be consumed with only one thing, and that is Him. Don’t let insecurities and the pursuit of perfection cloud your perspective. You are priceless, especially in your Father’s eyes.