Your Worth Is Not Found in Filters

I want to share something personal and something I don’t think I’ve ever fully said out loud before.

I struggle with my self-image.

That might not surprise people who follow me online. I don’t post without makeup. I often use filters. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with those things, I’ve realized my heart behind them is worth examining.

Recently, I listened to a podcast conversation with Sadie Robertson Huff that touched on beauty standards, makeup, and the pressure women often feel to look a certain way. It really made me reflect. In today’s culture, there’s an expectation, spoken or unspoken, to present ourselves in a polished, perfected way. When we don’t meet those standards, comparison creeps in. We feel inadequate. We start believing we need to look like someone else in order to be accepted.

But here’s the truth:

We weren’t created to look the same.

We were made in the image of God, each with unique features, personalities, and characteristics. That diversity isn’t a flaw. It’s part of the beauty of creation. Sometimes we forget that.

Scripture reminds us:

“So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them.”

Genesis 1:27

“For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb…

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Psalm 139:13–14

I’ll be honest… this is something I still wrestle with. I don’t feel comfortable posting without makeup. I haven’t really gone out in public without it since middle school. Somewhere along the way, it became tied to my identity, and I wish I had recognized that sooner.

Makeup, fillers, filters — none of these are inherently wrong. This isn’t a message of shame or judgment. If you enjoy them, wear them! If you choose Botox or fillers, go for it! What matters is why.

If those choices come from confidence and personal preference, that’s one thing. But when they’re driven by comparison or pressure to match a societal standard, they can slowly distort how we see ourselves.

Social media, especially, can create unrealistic expectations. Most of what we see is edited, filtered, or enhanced. For example, I don’t have perfect skin. I struggle with breakouts and allergic reactions that cause hives almost weekly. I self-tan. I wear a full face of makeup any time you see me out. Like many others, what appears effortless is often curated.

And that’s exactly why comparison is so dangerous. We’re measuring ourselves against someone else’s highlight reel.

God designed each of us intentionally. When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we step into a cycle of negativity that was never meant for us. We begin to overlook the value God has already placed within us.

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

So here’s my encouragement to you today:

You are beautiful as you are.

You are allowed to enjoy enhancing your appearance.

But never let culture define your worth.

If you wear makeup, do it because you like it.

If you pursue Botox or fillers, do it because it’s your choice.

If you embrace your natural self, do that confidently, too.

Just don’t base your value on comparison because you were never created to be someone else. You were created to be you. Intentionally, uniquely, and wonderfully made.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Psalm 139:14