VOICE OF TRUTH FOR TODAY
Beauty Is More Than Packaging
As a Christian, I know God has a plan for my life. So when things don’t go according to my plan, I try to discover what He’s teaching me.
One lesson came from an unexpected place: a bookstore return counter. 😂
I’d purchased an accessory for my son’s PlayStation and wanted to return it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the receipt. I emptied my purse onto the counter—coupons, pens, change, random papers, and FOUR lipsticks—but no receipt!
The cashier offered store credit, but I insisted I’d find that receipt and return later.
I never found it.
On my next visit, the manager refused the return because the packaging was damaged. Apparently, leaving the box in my vehicle hadn’t done it any favors. The plastic tabs were dirty, and the box looked pretty rough.
I understood her concern, but I wasn’t giving up!
I took the item home, cleaned the packaging, and returned once more. Before going, I prayed that God would give me the right attitude and words.
This time? No problem. The cashier happily accepted the return.
Same item. Same contents. Different packaging.
As I walked away, the Holy Spirit reminded me of 1 Peter 3:3–4, which teaches that true beauty isn’t found in outward adornment but in the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Ouch. What a lesson!
How often do we judge people based on what we can see? We make assumptions about someone’s worth, character, or acceptability based on their outward appearance.
Yet God looks beyond the packaging. He sees the heart.
Lord, forgive us for judging ourselves and others by the world’s standards. Help us recognize that lasting beauty comes from within. Teach us to cultivate the gentle, quiet spirit that is precious in Your sight. Because what matters most isn’t how beautiful the box looks. It’s what’s inside.
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Excerpt from Voice of Truth Magazine
“Kingdom Promise: Abundance, Hope, and a Future” by Kelly Williams Hale