The Mask You Wear

 

There are many times that someone might wear a mask: eye masks, Mardi Gras, Halloween, Christmas, robberies, ski masks, snorkling, etc.

But what about the masks that some people wear every day?  Masks hiding true feelings, hurt, discouragement, fear, disappointment, rejection are more common than we may think.

Growing up, I was very insecure.  It is something that I struggle with still today.  As a young person, I remember clearly, playing the role I thought was expected.  Even now, there are times when I hide my heart because I am afraid of rejection or criticism.

I am reading a book called Set Apart Femininity.  In it, the author describes some of the things we, girls and women in particular, do in order to gain approval or be accepted.  As I read the pages of chapter one, my heart broke with the weight of the expectations that we put on ourselves.

Psalm 139:13
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

God created us.  From the very beginning, He knew exactly who and what we would be, how we would look, speak and feel.  And yet, He didn’t change a thing.  We are  designed precisely in the manner God fashioned us.

Sometime we think that we are not pretty enough or smart enough or industrious enough or popular enough or enough like somebody else.  Enough!

1 Peter 3:4

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I have a wonderful friend – who is so different from me in so many ways.  I treasure her friendship and she has expressed the same sentiment.  We both have the same number of children, we both homeschool and we both love the Lord and want to serve Him.  The similarities pretty much end there.  Her kitchen cabinets would make Martha Stewart jealous.  Her husband can count on his dinner as he walks in the door.  Her homeschool is set out and consistent.  My kitchen cupboards, well, let’s just say that I’m thankful for cupboard doors.  My husband is always fed…eventually.  My homeschool is a new adventure every day.

On the other hand, our homeschool is a new adventure every day.  We really enjoy venturing out and trying new things.  We organise events in order to encounter new people.

The Lord designed my friend to excel in certain areas and He gave me other gifts.  That’s ok!  In fact, it’s wonderful!  If we were all exactly alike how would we ever learn anything?

I have some friends who are physically beautiful.  I can also say that I know some physically beautiful people whom I would not choose as friends.  Why?  Because on the inside, they have lost sight of what true beauty is.

Putting on make up or fancy clothes or being part of the in crowd, being the best athlete or the smartest in class will never fill the void of accepting yourself in Christ.

When you look at yourself in the mirror today, look and see what God sees.  Don’t pretend to be anyone else but examine what God has put in your life and decide today to live it for Him.  If you see something in someone else that you admire, consider whether or not it is a reflection of Christ.  Is it part of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control)?  If you are fostering these character traits in your life, then the true beauty of who you are will out shadow everything else.

Take off the mask of whom you think you should be and wear the reflection of whom God made you to be.