Day 4 — Consider the Lilies

“And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

— Matthew 6:28–30 (BSB)

Does this look okay? Is my hair weird? Are my clothes the right kind? Why does she look so much better than me?

A lot of girls worry about how they look. Maybe you stand in front of the mirror for a long time, changing outfits. Maybe you feel nervous about what other girls will think. Maybe you’ve started to worry about your body, your face or your weight.

Jesus talked about exactly this kind of worry. “Why do you worry about clothes?” And then He pointed to something beautiful: flowers.

“Consider how the lilies of the field grow.” Wildflowers don’t work. They don’t sew or shop. They don’t stand in front of a mirror. And yet they’re more beautiful than King Solomon, the richest, most splendid king in Israel’s history, dressed in all his royal robes!

Who made the lilies so beautiful? God did. And Jesus says, If God takes that much care over a flower that blooms today and is gone tomorrow, how much more will He care for you?

God made you. He cares about you, all of you, including your body. And your worth to Him doesn’t go up or down depending on your outfit, your hair or what the scale says.

It’s fine to enjoy clothes and taking care of how you look. But when worry about your appearance starts to take over, making you anxious, unhappy or unkind to yourself, it’s time to “consider the lilies” and remember who is taking care of you.

Here’s one more important thing. If worries about your body, your weight or eating ever start to feel really big, like you’re afraid to eat or you’re always unhappy with your body, please talk to your mom, dad or another trusted grown-up. You don’t have to handle those feelings alone.

Think about it: How much time do you spend worrying about how you look? What would it look like to “consider the lilies” instead?

Try this: Go outside and find a flower. Look at it closely. Thank God that He made it beautiful, and that He made you with even more care.

Dear God, thank You for the lilies and for the way You care for them. Help me not to worry so much about how I look. Thank You that You made me and care for me, and that my worth doesn’t depend on my clothes or my body. In Jesus’ name, Amen.