#ElevatedFriday, December 15th, 2017

Happy #ElevatedFriday! The engagement photos of a young couple from Texas are making their way around the internet for an incredible reason. Makenzee Meaux has worn a wig since she was 8 years old when she was diagnosed with alopecia, a disease that inexplicably causes all of a person’s hair follicles to stop growing. It is something that Makenzee has struggled with her entire life, enduring years of bullying and even, in her words, “losing hope that I could ever feel beautiful again.” Fast forward a few years, and Makenzee met the love of her life, but even with him, she could not tell him about her condition for two and a half months. Her soon to be husband never wavered, and five years later they are engaged to be married in May. Makenzee says that her fiancé has “helped [her] be brave and realize that hair is not what makes you beautiful and is not what makes people love you, it is truly all about what’s on the inside.” Her engagement photos prove that to be true.

While few people suffer from alopecia, Makenzee’s story is relatable by just about all of us. At some point in our lives, we have all lacked confidence in ourselves or lost hope that things will get better. But the Bible offers us new perspective on such trying times; in James, it says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” In Christ, we are made perfect and complete, lacking in nothing – in other words, we are made beautiful in His eyes. And when that happens, our soul is changed, and what really counts on the inside, is made perfect. The greatest beauty a person can have is a faithful soul in Christ. Today, give thanks for the trials you have already conquered that have led you to today, and celebrate the trials you are currently enduring as they make you more beautiful in Christ’s eyes.

“Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4 ESV

Original Article:

http://bit.ly/2BoOAAH