You see her sitting across from you in the coffee shop. You know, the professional woman who is typing away on her Mac. She is dressed head-to-toe in Ann Taylor and Michael Kors and her hair has looks like she just left the salon. You jealously gaze upon her, wishing that your life could be successful, too.

But even she has struggles on the inside that you cannot see. The stress of her corporate job weighs heavily upon her as layoffs approach. She wonders, compared to her coworkers, if she is good enough to keep a coveted spot at the company. She wishes she had worked harder, tried harder, to get ahead so that she would be more marketable. She doesn’t know what will happen if she gets laid off.

Even though she looks amazing on the outside, her life is crumbling on the inside.

You see her at the gym in the most challenging exercise class. She jumps the highest and crunches the hardest and stretches the farthest than anyone else. She looks AH-MAZ-ING in her cropped tank top and yoga pants and you would give anything to have her body. In fact, you will take her whole youthful package – athletic body, beautiful face, and awesome hair.

But even she has struggles on the inside that you cannot see. She has always hated her body and she pushes herself to exercise multiple times a day to lose weight. She agonizes over every bite of food she puts in her mouth and she thinks about calorie counts all day long. She just longs to be able to eat and exercise like a normal person. She longs to be free from the voices that tell her that she will never be thin enough.

Even though she is sexy and beautiful on the outside, her life is crumbling on the inside.

You see her at park getting her adorable children out of her Chevy Tahoe. She talks so sweetly and patiently to them, ushering them up to the playground equipment. She plays with them, going down the slide together and saying “Whee!” Later she gives them organic, healthy and homemade snacks, listening attentively to the stories they tell her and attending to their every need. She looks like the Best. Mom. Ever.

But even she has struggles on the inside that you cannot see. The second her Tahoe pulls into her two car garage, her depression will descend like darkness on a winter night. The weight of the world will fall upon her shoulders, and all of her joy will drain out. She will struggle to function to take care of those little ones that she just played with. She will find it hard to cook and clean and face tomorrow.

Even though she looks happy and healthy on the outside, her life is crumbling on the inside.

You see her everywhere you go – the woman who looks like she has her life together. She is the woman who looks successful and beautiful and smart and loved by everyone. But that is only who she is on the outside. On the inside, she is just like you, broken, human, weak and struggling. She, even she, is often falling apart within.

Even though she looks amazing on the outside, her life is crumbling on the inside.

So when you see her, don’t hate her because she seems to be have it more together than you. Don’t judge her because she is successful or beautiful or living the American dream. Don’t shun her because she does everything so well.  Don’t let the green-eyed monster of jealousy cause you to keep your distance from her.

The truth is that she, even she, is no different than you. She has struggles and burdens and weariness that your natural eyes cannot see. Like you, she longs for peace and purpose and to be approved and accepted for who she is. So be brave when you see her, and smile and say hello to her.  Be kind to that woman who looks amazing on the outside but is crumbling on the inside.

Because she longs to be loved, just like you. Yes, her. That woman.

Even she.

PS Just a reminder, if you live in the Wilmington area, to join us for the Ephesians Bible study for the next 6 Wednesday nights.  

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