“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’ ” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
True Colors
A year ago, I sat in this very chair at my hair dresser’s. It was the last “normal” thing I did before our worlds shrunk to the size of our homes. For the next months the real color of my hair slowly became more and more evident. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror resulted in a double take and stopping for a closer look, left me asking, “Who is that gray-haired lady staring back at me?” The longer it went on, the more the pandemic revealed the “real” me.
“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” Proverbs 27:19 (NLT)
I’ve heard it said, maybe you have too, that it’s usually during the worst of times a person’s true colors show. We’ve certainly been going through that kind of time, haven’t we? All the changes, restrictions, disappointments, and unknowns certainly could expose someone we don’t recognize. When catching my own reflection, there’ve been times I was blue as sadness crept into my days. Shades of envy green grabbed my attention when others were gathered with family and I couldn’t be. It wasn’t hard to see that I also attempted to keep a white-knuckled grip of control on normal life as it seemed to quickly slip through my fingers. Maybe you’ve felt like an emotional chameleon, too. True colors of my heart? Probably so, but thankfully not permanent ones because like the Psalmist, we can cry out:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NLT)
As you might have guessed, I’m not ready for others to see the natural color of my hair quite yet. Thankfully, my friend and hair stylist can now cover it up for me! So, what do we do about those true colors that creep into our hearts that we don’t want to show the world, either? Thankfully, Jesus’s red blood covers and transforms those!
“And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:21-22 (NLT)
Much has changed between my visits to cover up the gray. Things we never imagined could happen have now become part of our everyday; but, I was reminded as I sat in my hair stylist’s chair, that there IS something we can count on to always remain the same: Jesus and His work in us. (Hebrews 13:8) Even when our (my) hearts become tinted by the circumstances around us, what a comfort to know that, in His hands, they become a palete of True Colors He uses to create a masterpiece in each us. And this one? We WANT to display to the world!
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
I did a lot of reflection as I sat in that chair this week, knowing all that had happened in a year! I love when God sends me a lesson that I need right at the moment I need it! I pray that it will encourage you, too. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of being here reading my random thoughts. It means more than you know! C~
Thank you for sharing! I loved all the colors you found, but mostly grateful for Jesus’ red blood that makes me white as snow!
Cindy, I’m so thankful for your transparency about being green with envy. I fight that green monster a lot. I’m also thankful for a patient Father that allows me to bring all of my colors. He helps me sort them them and of course, washes me white as snow…which may be the color of my hair one day- hehe.
Haha! Well if HE washes it white with snow it will be just perfect on you! 😉 Oh my that green that shows up in me definitely needs to be washed away!! Yikes! I am very grateful for your being here with me. It means more than you know!
Your stories always inspire me and make me think. Maybe my favorite quote is “True colors of my heart? Probably so, but thankfully not permanent ones because like the Psalmist, we can cry out:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NLT)”. Or maybe it’s “Even when our (my) hearts become tinted by the circumstances around us, what a comfort to know that, in His hands, they become a palete of True Colors He uses to create a masterpiece ” God pursues us relentlessly because he wants to transform us – if only we would invite him in..
Oh Jane, you are such an encouragement to me! And yes, I need to be reminded to stop and invite God to work in me! Thank you so much for taking your time to stop in! You are a blessing to me!
This is really nice, Cindy. I like how you’ve used the example of the “true colour” of your hair to symbolize the truth about ourselves that’s revealed in times of stress. And of course God says that when He refines us we’ll come forth as gold. That’s the hope!
That’s my hope too, Jeannie! Thank you so much for taking your time to join me here! I always appreciate your kind words!