Gospel Grace

Gospel Grace

THE POWER OF THE UGLY

Society has a way of dividing and conquering, and humanity at large tells us that we are ‘less than’ when we don’t meet certain qualifications or benchmarks. My sisters, as women we are often faced with the scrutiny of our beauty and our physical attributes over that of another woman. Self-deprecating thoughts separate us from the intrinsic and natural beauty that emanates from the inside out and cannot be purchased, manufactured, or replaced.

It is the power of what others define as ugly or not pleasing to the eye that is the very beauty of our soul. It is the power of the ugly that is drawing you, my sister, towards your greatest strength. God looks at you and sees all of what He has created and purposed. He looks at you and He sees you as the apple of His eye.

You are so much more than Daddy’s maybe, a man’s rejection, or another sister’s dejection and envy. The ugly of what life has shown you are not deflated, desolate and voided places for you to hide as though you are barren. Sisters, the ugly places will drive you to a place of desperation and dehydration, causing you to settle, but at the same time pushing you towards the greater. The ugly places that have shown themselves in the face of love, trust, pain, disappointment and desperation, fear and faith are the places of your roar.

It is the reflection of the ugly that empowers the Leah in each of us to rise up from the shadows of the ashes of dry, dead bones. It is the power of the ugly that rises up to scatter the debris of diseases, infestations, defamation, defeat, deflation and disappointment! Rise up, Sisters! Your ugly is the place of your femininity, power, strength, beauty, authority, healing, and restoration.

The beauty of the ugly is not the overlay that the right color or shade brings to your cheeks or your lips, but it is the sweet aroma of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that lingers, consumes, and has been your saving grace. It is the place of salvation that waits for a longing soul and desperate spirit. The beauty of the ugly is the countenance upon the face of the Daughters of Zion after a sweet encounter with the God of redemption.

You are God’s valued creation. You are His beloved, beautiful daughter, worthy in His sight. Christ dwells on the inside of you, transforming you from the inside out. Anything contrary to the Word and love of God is a lie. Sisters, allow the truth of God’s Word and the love as shown through His sacrifices to saturate the ugly. God alone is your portion and cup and He makes your lot secure. God is waiting to receive you. His grace and mercy fails us not, and it is in the grace and love of God that rests your place of wholeness, deliverance, restoration, and greatness. The beast of the ugly only empowers you to see and experience the beauty of God’s love and compassion towards His chosen daughters. Position yourself to receive the beauty of God’s love.

My dear Sister, understand this: that no matter what you have experienced and endured, and no matter what mistakes you have made, there is a place of redemption for you that awaits. Jesus paid the cost of every sin, weight, and burden that we would ever encounter. His sacrifice is the reason that you can come before the throne of grace and mercy with a heart of repentance expecting forgiveness. God is the God of forgiveness, restoration, and redemption. God is the God that sees past the ugly so that we can freely accept the gift of salvation and His love. Bring your all before the throne of God; repent, receive, and allow God to restore.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” (Psalm 13:5-6, NIV)

Prayer:

Heavenly and most gracious God, thank you for showing me the beauty of the ugly that I thought made me worthless. Thank you for the reminder of your Word that declares that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. I am more than a conqueror because I have learned the power of turning the ugly things in life into a place of power, purpose, and prosperity. What I thought was a place of defeat, I have found in and through you that there is strength in the ugly trials and tribulations of life, because they lead me to you. Thank you, God, for allowing me to see you through the lens of beauty and not the beast. Thank you, God, for new life that has come through the gifts of your grace and mercy. I thank you that I can trade my ashes for the beauty of salvation, redemption, and restoration. I declare that the power of the ugly rests in the strength of knowing that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

~Amen.

Dr. Jia Conway