Facelifts or Gracelifts: Where True Worth and Peace Are Found

Summary

Facelifts chase fading beauty at great cost, but gracelifts offer lasting worth for free through God’s grace. Appearance-based self-esteem is fragile, while grace provides sufficiency for every need. Salvation and daily strength come by grace through faith as we follow Jesus. Trusting God’s all-sufficient grace brings peace, steadies anxious hearts, and anchors identity in what is eternal rather than what fades.

There were 234,374 total facelifts in the US in 2020, but many more gracelifts. The intent of the first is to look younger, improve self-esteem, and make lifestyle changes, with 92 percent of that total being women. The average cost is $8,005. 1 Gracelifts are free. We will consider them shortly.

The Costly Pursuit of Appearance

Many US women have appearance-based self-esteem. By facelifts and other cosmetic procedures, they will pay a lot to reenter the realm of “respectability.” Eventually, age plucks every cherry from their tree of physical beauty. Appearance is an insecure foundation for self-worth.

The Problem with a Facelift Mentality

Someone suggested women go to extreme beauty enhancement measures because men in the US can see much better than they think! Many men don’t realize that marrying for appearance is like buying a house for its paint job.

People who overvalue physical beauty are like companies hiring employees based on their physical attractiveness instead of their abilities and experience. A facelift mentality focuses on the unimportant and fleeting rather than the crucial and eternal.

Where True Worth and Peace Are Found

So, what matters? What is timeless? Look no further than the gracelift of the first paragraph.

Everyone can afford a gracelift. Since it is rooted in God’s undeserved favor, we can leave our wallets at home.

“So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe” (Romans 4:16 NLT). True worth and peace are found in the warehouse of God's grace.

Grace Is Free and All-Sufficient

Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace lifts us free from the penalty of our sins, but it is not a one-trick pony. It is the Swiss Army knife of whatever we need. God distributes it as we follow His Son.

Following Jesus Unlocks the Gracelift

Following Jesus is the only path on which gracelift is available. That is our gracelift ticket.

Here is how I pray the King James version of 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you [physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, mentally, relationally, financially, and vocationally]; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

Grace as a Daily Source of Peace

Praying it this way floods my soul with God’s peace. I trust that God’s grace will be enough for whatever comes my way.

It is usually the first thing I pray before I get out of bed in the morning. I pray it again when I eat breakfast.

God’s grace conforms to my needs and provides sufficiency in all things. That prayer is my peace button whenever the slightest anxiety stresses my heart. It is my gracelift.

Should we ask for God's grace? Of course. Are you in a position to receive God’s all-sufficient grace? Are you following Jesus? Have you had your gracelift today?

1.     2023 Facelift Statistics (elitetampa.com)

Photo: Image Creator (microsoft.com)