As the kids put on masks for Halloween, I wonder how many masks I wear in a day to get through until I crawl into bed at night. There is the happy mask I slap on at the office when clients are yelling at me for things in which I have no control over. Then there’s the mask I sometimes wear with friends to let them know everything is alright, even when it’s not. There’s the mask I wear at my kids’ school in hopes other parents don’t see how little I have it all together.
The irony is that on this blog, where I can’t look people in the eye, is the one place I don’t need to wear a mask. It’s probably one of the main reasons I like writing this blog so much. I can just be me and if one of my commenters doesn’t like it, then so be it. For some reason the virtual world has the ability to be the great equalizer where we can create whomever we want to be or be as authentic as we want.
Keeping up the mask, ensuring there is no crack in it, is exhausting. I am exhausted. Can I get an amen from the back?
What if we let go of our mask? Let go if the parts we play for the expectation of others? What if we turned to the One who never rejects us, but He felt the ultimate rejection to pay for our sins? What if we took off all the mess we have and laid them it at the foot of the cross?
God created us. He knows what’s in our true hearts. In Psalm 139:13 (NIV) it says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” He truly sees the real us. He fully accepts us. Let me say it again my friend, He fully accepts us.
All of us.
Our faults.
Our fears.
Our failures.
Not only does He accept us, but He loves us unconditionally. There is nothing that can separate us from His love if we are willing to accept the invitation He offers to all of us, freely. In Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) it says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
There are no exceptions to His love. We can drop the mess and grab a hold of the truth. Yes, when we drop our mess, those around us might not like it and we may even be rejected by friends or family, but we can turn to Jesus. He knows what it’s like to feel rejection for walking the path to our purpose.
Jesus’s whole life lead to the cross. It wasn’t what He wanted to do. He asked God to take it away because He knew the physical cost of what He was about to enter.
He did it anyway.
For you and for me.
All we need to do is drop our masks at the foot of the cross and accept the freedom God offers us. If this is a gift you seek, a freedom you crave, and a step you’re willing to take, pray this simple prayer, “Lord I’m tired of wearing all my masks. I want the freedom you offer for my sin. Please wash me clean of my past. Guide my present thoughts and actions. Help me to trust you with my future. I asked you to come live in my heart. I thank you for the gift of spending eternity with you.”
If you pray this prayer, please share it with us so we can throw a party or if you want to contact me individually so we can celebrate one-on-one do you so here I encourage all of us to drop our masks and live authentically with God.