“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16: 7b NIV
I walked into church, a trained smile upon my lips; one that never seemed to reach my eyes. Our family was in the midst of a crisis. A crisis I could not share because the story wasn’t mine.
As I glanced around, I wondered if anyone truly saw me. Many knew me well. Would anyone see through the façade?
Sometimes we endure struggles we think we must keep to ourselves. Maybe we have confided before, and had that confidence shattered. Maybe we bought into the lie that my unique struggle is truly mine alone. That no one would understand.
That no one wants to understand.
When our hearts or spirits are in a pile of shattered pieces, what should we do? Should we embrace the mask?
As we witness others in painful circumstances should we encourage, or at least allow them, to find anonymity behind the mask? It might appear more comfortable at first blush.
I wouldn’t want to intrude on someone’s life.
I wouldn’t want to make someone uncomfortable.
I wouldn’t want someone to feel I am judging him.
Or, would we be welcome, a voice of encouragement, love and understanding? A voice that might say many words sounding like Jesus?
Hebrews 3:8 tells us, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness.”
We face our own personal wilderness at times. It can be easier to keep plugging away at life, keeping a straight face under the crushing weight of agonizing burdens.
Yet that’s not what God intended for us.
It can be easier to get angry, refusing to let others in, refusing to verbalize the challenges, refusing to allow ourselves any compassion.
That wall we build to keep others at bay can trap us into doing live alone- something God never intended- and make our obstacles all the more difficult, giving the enemy room to further discourage, distress, and depress us.
God created us for community. In His church, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are called to comfort, console and commiserate. We are called to pray for, pray with, and plead on one another’s behalf, simply because we are all believers in God. We know that through Jesus anything is possible.
And, we are called to allow others to minister to us. We do not always need to be Jesus, but we can allow others to be Jesus to us.
Eventually, I shared with a few trusted friends. They prayed me through. They offered much-needed hugs. They listened.
God encouraged me through them. Knowing I wasn’t alone helped propel me through another tough moment.
I needed them.
Whatever secret struggle you might be fighting today, and however firmly your mask is fastened, there is One who always sees behind the mask. As our key verse for today reminds us, He not only sees behind the mask, but also sees directly into the heart.
And, He loves unconditionally.
Even the heart that has been reduced to a pile of jagged, painful pieces. Especially the heart that can’t imagine being whole ever again.
He sees.
He loves.
And, He wants to help.
Will you allow yourself to be honest with Him? Will you allow yourself to be honest with one of His children, to help you navigate your challenging crisis? Because, He never intended for any of us to go at it alone.
Reflections:
How can I become more transparent, to dispel the wrong perception that I have it all together?
How can I become more approachable, and sensitive to help others who are hiding behind a mask?
Prayer:
Thank You God that You are indeed the God who sees me, who knows me, and still loves me unconditionally. Please help me to be honest with You and with myself about my struggles in this life. Thank You for always loving me, In Jesus’ name, Amen.