Have you ever put on a mask and walked by a mirror and not recognized yourself? Or maybe you’ve worn a mask or costume and your own children didn’t know it was you behind the mask because you looked so different? Mask are fun to wear. They allow you to hide or become someone new.
There is an epidemic of mask wearing. Not the Halloween scary or cute kind of mask for one night. But the kind of mask that you use to hide behind. It’s not a physical mask. This kind of a mask is not always obvious. You can fool your friends, co-workers, family, maybe your spouse, and sometimes even yourself.
There are many reasons why we hide behind masks. Fear, pain, hurt, rejection, loneliness, scars, perhaps to protect ourselves… and the list goes on. It certainly is much easier to pretend we are perfect and pretty. It is a very scary thing to reveal hurts and flaws to the world.
Let me encourage you, friend. It’s time to take the mask off. You don’t need to hide. Yes, some people might be cruel, they might not accept you, they might not even recognize you, but they will be face to face with the real you. Hiding behind the mask leaves an empty, hypocritical feeling. Masks keep you wondering if you are really accepted and loved.
The truth is people can be mean. They are quick to judge or shun you because of your scars, pain, hurt, and differences. But those same people that are judging so harshly are wearing masks of their own, hiding their own scars and pain.
I have been on both sides of the mask. The one wearing it and scared to take it off. And, I am sad to admit, I have also been the one judging others masks, scars, pain, and fear. I still have to work to conscientiously take off the masks that I continually hide behind. I have fooled myself into thinking that they would protect me, but they don’t. They can’t keep my secrets and conceal my pain forever. Acting like I have never suffered loss, pain, rejection, abuse, hurt, heartache, and fear doesn’t mean I never have! Those scars are a part of me and have played a role in making me the woman I am today. I still need healing. I still need forgiveness. I still need love and acceptance. It is a very vulnerable thing to take off that mask and reveal my heart and who I really am.
Dear Friend, God made you exactly who you are supposed to be! You can find all the acceptance you need in Jesus! All the healing and confidence you need can be found in Jesus. There are some pretty powerful Scriptures that God has given us about the healing we can receive and the forgiveness and love that is freely offered.
Jesus proudly and willingly bears the scars of our pain, sorrows, and sin! Through his scars we can have peace.
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.” ~ Isaiah 53:4-5
God wants to use our weaknesses to glorify him. When we are weak, we know we can’t do it on our own and in our own strength. Let your weakness be God’s power.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9
The Lord will give us true healing and will love you the whole way through that healing.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ~ Psalms 103:2-5
He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. ~ Psalms 147:3
We should be honest with one another about our insecurities and failures. The next step is not to judge, but to pray for each other!
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ~ James 5:16
God will forgive you. God forgives others. Now forgive yourself. Forgive others.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ~Colossians 3:12-14
Be the first one to remove your mask. Be brave. You don’t know what people might say or think. But who cares? Ask God to help you remove the mask you are hiding behind, and start hiding behind Him. He is so much better then a mask!
Why do you hide behind a mask sometimes? What scares you the most about taking off that mask?
KEIKILANI
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