2:231 – It’s Tiring To Wear A Mask

#faithbites #faithjourney tiring

As a kid, I used to love Halloween. Dressing up and becoming someone else was great. I remember wearing those big masks. At first, it made you look scary or funny or whatever, but after a few minutes, you wanted to take it off. It was hot, your vision wasn’t great, you couldn’t eat, etc etc. Then as you went up to a house, you would put it back on, then take it back off and walk to the next house.

Being in chronic pain is like that. You hurt and have to put on a happy face for people. It’s hard to be yourself like that. Others, put on a mask because they think they have to dress a certain way. A tie, dress clothes, church clothes, fashionable clothes, whatever it may be. But the truth is that isn’t who they really are. Likewise, some go through the motions of faith, without believing.

I don’t know about you, but wearing a mask all the time is tiring. Jesus knows who we are behind the mask. We aren’t doing any good by wearing it or trying to live up to social conventions when that isn’t who we are.

Scripture

• Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15
• But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7
• Each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. – 1 Corinthians 3:13

Reflection

A mask can seem comfortable for a while. we begin to hide who we truly are to “fit in”. But God wants us to be His children, not ashamed of who we are, and handling is Word. He knows that we are broken sinners who need saving. No matter the masks we put on, the Lord knows our Heart. Even at the end of days, our work will become manifest.

Why then live as someone else? Why put up false airs about who you are? It’s hard to be 100% yourself all the time. So many things in life are telling us to act a certain way, think a certain way, vote a certain way, and just be like everyone else. As Dave Ramsey says in Financial Peace, “Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else”. He is saying it in reference to your finances, but it applies here. If you take off your mask, and truly be yourself, things will change.

Charge

Try to take off your mask. It won’t be easy at first as it’s become comfortable at least for others, while it is hard on you. It will take time as others have become comfortable in you acting a certain way. Be open about your faith, your pains, your wishes, and your struggles. You will soon know who are true friends and companions on this journey. If people start to back away, then they are probably not the ones God wants in your life. Help them to understand the change and that you are living mask free.

Prayer

Lord, tonight we pray for all of us who wear masks. We wear them for different reasons including pain, faith, disability, desires, finances, and more. It’s very tiring to wear this on a daily basis. Help us to begin to lessen that pain by taking off the mask little by little. Be with those who are around us as we change and point to you. They will see us as being different, while we are just starting to be who you made us to be. Lord, as we start a new school year, be with all the children and teachers. Help them to be your true servants without masks. Let them learn, grow, and share who they truly are. You made us, know us, and love us. In your great name, Amen.