Day 75: The Wow Factor

Today, I had a conversation with a friend about what I now call the “wow” factor. From our conversation, I gathered that he hopes to be “wowed” by the woman that God brings into his life. We discussed how that would function, and how it may be different for women and men. For him, or perhaps men in general, it seems like the initial “wow” factors would be appearance and personality, while it could be much more fluid for women. For example, certain “wow” factors for me would be humor and intelligence before physical attraction even entered my mind. Mind you, these “wow” factors are all second to an obvious love for the Lord!
 
After going back and forth about all this “wowing” business, he went to work and I went on with my day, thinking about how I am “wowed,” and wondering if there was anything in me that could be considered “wowing” to others.

And, naturally, I drew a blank.

I realized that there was no real way to “wow” anyone if I was thinking about it. After all, aren't we truly impressed when people are themselves? Isn't it so plainly obvious when we see people striving to be something they aren't for the sole reason of proving that they are amazing? It's a sad way to live.
Yet, it seems as though so many do just that.

I guess the “wow” factor is in the eye of the beholder because, honestly, although some people are able to “wow” everyone, it's more likely that people will be drawn to each other because of their own preferences, etc.

And now, you're probably asking yourself how this even relates a tiny bit to what God is teaching me. WELL, I'm glad you asked :) 
 
For the majority of my life, I have been unimpressed with myself. Even now, there are so many things about myself that I wish I could change. I don't consider myself to be beautiful, or even pretty, and there are far too many character flaws to mention.

And that's only the beginning of my insecurities. 
 
But, these insecurities don't exist when I honestly seek the Lord. Each day that I choose to follow Jesus, these fade and fall by the wayside as I try to figure out how to be more like Him.

In some crazy way, I know that He is “wowed” by me. He sent Jesus for us, and for me. In His protection, love, and mercy, I can feel like I am beautiful and valued, even when the world says, or treats me, otherwise. I am comfortable in who I am because of whose I am, and I find it hard to second guess what God has made whole in my life.

I am beauty from ashes.

As I wait, sometimes patiently and sometimes impatiently, for the man that God will bring into my life, I can't help but hope that he is “wowed,” too. And I know that the only way for that to happen is for me to keep following Jesus with everything that I have. Because if I have a man that is “wowed” by anything about me, I hope that it is by the most enduring and vulnerable thing about me: my love for Jesus.

If he's “wowed” by my humor, or intelligence, or beauty, or cooking, that's all a plus that flows from my desire to know my God more and more each day.

And I pray that when I see him, his passion for Christ will have me saying WOW from the beginning, and for the rest of my life.






In Christ,



Lilia