I kept a rigid running clock of how many minutes I spent putting on makeup, listening to music, and scrolling through social media — hyperaware of each nanosecond I neglected to fill with prayer, Bible reading, or everything “Christian.”
As an impressionable, perfection-driven teenage girl living with undiagnosed Intrusive Thought Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, my soul caved on itself the moment my Sunday School teacher made a bold, brass statement:
“If you spend more time putting on your makeup than reading your Bible, that’s a sin.”
I spent eight hours at school, three hours studying, two hours at volleyball practice, and one hour crying because I knew I’d have another eight hours of school the next day. A two-minute devotion was often the best I could do.
Following my Sunday School teacher’s agonizing statement, I assumed I was idolatrous — doomed to a merciless schedule that could never prioritize religious activities over academics, athletics, travel. . .anything. Even worse? My obsessive brain relentlessly fought the gnawing notion that I didn’t want to spend eight hours a day reading my Bible, praying, or discussing theology.
A decade later, as a grown woman, I continued to quietly struggle with the lie that I was never giving God enough of my time, that I was always choosing errands or coffee breaks over my Savior. All those years hadn’t yet granted me wisdom on how to divvy my time so God could take top priority. Believing this lie, in turn, left me confined to a devastating, monotonous routine of feeling like God was always frustrated with me.
But then, at age twenty-seven, I discovered a subtle but wonderful crack in my rigid concept of God. And I found it in a sunrise.
I’m a Georgia peach, born and raised, so most of my childhood sunrises were blocked by tall pine trees, their leafy green casting a merciful shadow on hot days. But after my husband’s job moved us to southern Colorado — a desert where no plant grows taller than a few feet — I had no choice but to notice the sun in all its morning glory.
Each morning as I walked my dogs, I was overwhelmed by the tender lavender hues that spilled over soft clouds. Light yellows, baby pinks, and creamy blues draped a waning, weary earth. Gleams of bright light danced off the white snow-capped mountains.
God is beautiful, I finally thought, unable to break away from the awe and wonder as He continued to grace mankind with another twenty-four hours of life and breath.
God is beautiful.
Beauty cannot be separated from God, which means the harmony of violin strings and drum beats speaks of God’s perfect timing. It means eye shadow and mascara showcase the baffling intricacies of the eye…which He created. It means the Great Commission can be graciously fulfilled by the click of a few buttons, hashtagging the Gospel across the world.
God doesn’t require us to log each day’s activities, demanding that our “solely religious” pursuits account for more hours than all other activities and responsibilities. That’s not to say we should ignore Bible studies, skip over praise music, or neglect church attendance. We aren’t given such a grace to spend it so frivolously. However, we are welcomed to see that God invites us to find Him all the days of our lives — all the hours, minutes, seconds, and bits in between.
We can invite Him to coffee, listen for Him on our playlists, or seek His wisdom as we craft stories, paint pictures, or hunt for a new puppy to adopt.
He longs for us to see Him in the sunrise, in soulful music, in the art of blush and lip balm, in the hearts of those who connect with one another through a worldwide internet that holds no candle to the phenomena of God Almighty’s Son. He craves our attention in simple, innocent, daily ways. We aren’t pressed to memorize each Gospel word-for-word, but we are encouraged to carry the Gospel’s power and love into not only chapels but nail salons, ice cream shops, and tattoo parlors.
We are to find God’s beauty, no matter what we say or do, no matter where we go, and no matter the company we’re surrounded by. It’s there; it might be subtle, but it’s certainly not hiding. And as we notice His fingerprints dancing across all things pure, lovely, and righteous, our greatest calling is to whisper to others, “God is beautiful.”
Leave a Comment
Judyc says
Thank you for reminding us to first look for God’s beauty everywhere, and then to share it with others. Blessings on you today!
Peyton Garland says
Hi, Judy! So thankful for your encouragement. I pray you find God’s peace in the sun today! ☀️
Ruth Mills says
Yes indeed!!! Beautifully said, Peyton! Blessings!
Peyton Garland says
Thank you, Ruth! Your kind words warm my heart on this cold day in the mountains! ️
Duell Jane says
I found deep comfort and joy in your message this morning. God is in the beauty around us, within and in the faces of all whom we share His love, whether received or not. Thank you.
Peyton Garland says
Hi, Duell! You are so right! God is so humble that He continues to bless us with His beauty—even when we ignore it or don’t recognize that it’s there! ♥️
Maura says
Words I need to here today, especially the part about memorizing scripture word for word. I too feel it’s more important to live out what I read.
Peyton Garland says
Yes, Maura! I’m right there with you! Lately, I read 1 Psalm a day and 1 verse a day. The Psalms just feel so relatable, and I focus on only one verse so I can engage what it calls me to throughout the day!
Bonnie Arrington says
Gods beauty could definitely be found in the soothing beautiful words of this writer. Thank you Peyton for reminding us that we only have to open our eyes as well as our hearts to see, feel and taste the beauty God has for us all.
Peyton Garland says
Yes! Just as God made a heart that beats, He made a heart that loves. He made eyes that see, but then He made eyes that see more than the physical surroundings. He gave us senses to, quite literally, sense His beauty.
Kelly Hanners says
Thank you for these inspiring words and the deep truth embedded in every word. Thank you for allowing me to see myself worthy in God’s eyes even when I’m not in my own.
Peyton Garland says
I believe we are all sinners in desperate need of grace, but the more I understand God’s character, the more I believe that even in our depravity, God saw through our sin and still chose to call us worthy and beautiful. Hence, His burning desire to send His Son. We are forever worthy because of Love.
Kemi George says
Thank you so much formsharing your experience. It was a painful lesson to know that your Sunday school teacher lied to you. It is enough to derail your pursuits in life. God is ever faithful, there is a way He leads us even when we are ignorant of where we are going. I thank God for you, because, you are fulfilled despite your early ugly experience. God is beautiful in all ways praise Gid
Peyton Garland says
Hi, Kemi! I’m so grateful for your kindness. As a child, I took whatever adults said as truth, assuming they always taught what was right and good, especially in the church. However, the older I’ve gotten, the more I recognize how crucial it is to take every man’s words and hold them in light of Scripture and God’s teachings before so easily labeling them as trustworthy.
Kemi George says
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It was a painful lesson to know that your Sunday school teacher lied to you. It is enough to derail your pursuits in life. God is ever faithful, there is a way He leads us even when we are ignorant of where we are going. I thank God for you, because, you are fulfilled despite your early ugly experience. God is beautiful in all ways praise God
Kemi George says
It is okay by me. Thank you.
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Peyton thank you for this post. It is so true we can never exclude God’s beauty. When we look all around our world which man wants to destroy. We can still see the beauty of God love. Especially when after a rainy day. We then sometimes see a beautiful Rainbow. All its beautiful colour. How amazing it is and how beautiful it is. It also as we look at it reminds us of God’s promises that he said to Noah. That when you see a Rainbow it is my promise to never flood the world again. Plus when we listen to that old hymn “All things bright and beautiful” The words some of them go like this. All things bright and beautiful the Lord God made them all.. Each little bird that sings he made their tiny wings. Each little flower that opens he made he made there colours. I might not have said it right but if you listen to song on line on YouTube you get all about God’s beautiful in the world we live in. One thing someone told me. God beauty is also in us. His people that he made. As we are beautiful to God no matter what we look like. That all that matters. Not what man may think of us. We have to remember we are beautiful to God. So God beauty is all around us no matter what. As God made this beautiful world we live in. It says it in the a song I was taught at Sunday School when small. It goes “He’s God The Whole World In His Hands” you get the full version of it on YouTube. Yes he got the whole world in his hands. Because God made it. So our God is a you say beautiful and his beauty is all around us. I say Amen to that. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little keeping you all in prayer incourage.
Peyton Garland says
Hi, Dawn! I love the truth that God’s beauty is nestled in each of us. Perhaps if we remembered that more intentionally, this world would be a kinder place. Grateful for your encouragement!
Beth Williams says
Peyton,
God doesn’t demand a certain amount of our time daily. He waits patiently for us to come to Him when we are ready. In the meantime He showers us with beauty beyond description. I look at Smoky Mountains & glorious fall colors. Listen & sing along to Christian music to & from work. I spend as much time as I can with Him daily & He is pleased with that. If we miss a day for some reason He gives us grace to try again tomorrow.
We need to point out God’s beauty to everyone.
Blessings 🙂
Peyton Garland says
Hi, Beth! You are so right. God doesn’t label our faithfulness and devotion to Him with a stopwatch. He’s far more gracious and loving than that. Grateful for your encouragement!
Kimberly says
Thank you for this!! It’s so easy to feel like there is this list of reading the bible 30 minutes a day, attending church every week, memorizing scripture, etc, etc, etc, and if you don’t attain everything perfectly on this list than you aren’t doing it right when in reality going into the world every day and showing love and being love is really what Jesus was/is about. It’s about being perfect or checking a list everyday or following man-made standards that can make you feel like you’ll never be good enough or like God is always disappointed with you.
Peyton Garland says
Hi, Kimberly! I completely agree. If we think about the life of Jesus, He rarely emphasized the rules of the faith. Rather, He encouraged the love that activates faith. So thankful for a God who is more concerned with my spirit than my checklist!
Deborah says
At 70 years old I was set free by your words. Thank you.
Peyton Garland says
Deborah, you have no idea how encouraged you have left me. Often, I ask God to show me how I can matter each day, but monotony and routine lead me to feel as if I make little difference amid work emails, errands, and chasing my terrible dogs. But your comment settles my heart and reminds me that I—all of us—matter daily. Sending grace and light your way, friend!