Take Off Your Mask

 

Ever seen this bumper sticker before?

 

While this may be true in the sense that Jesus gives people joy, the theology behind it is not entirely true. I am not saying our lives don't change at all after Jesus comes into them. We definitely DO change. However, we will not always be happy.

Many Christians fall into this trap. They think they are supposed to constantly be happy, and that they can never be discouraged, sad, feel lonely, or even angry. I am not saying God doesn't want us to be happy. He definitely wants us to be happy. But we are human. God made us with emotions. We are supposed to show those emotions, not put on a façade. Why would God make these different emotions if we were not supposed to show them?

But instead we put on our masks everyday. We don't let anyone see beyond our masks. We show them what we want to show them. We show them our "happiness," our selfishness, our arrogance, when in reality we are lonely, depressed, and insecure. But we don't want them to see that. Because we think we are beyond feeling lonely, depressed, and insecure. I mean, after all, we are Christians. Christians aren't supposed to feel this way....Are they?

Jesus never promised us a life full of all rainbows, unicorns, sunny days, and all the other "fluff."

 

 

(Although I think we all wouldn't mind to be Agnes some days.) Jesus did say, however, that we would have trials and tribulations in this world. (1 Peter 4:12) He didn't command us to always be happy. He told us that he would always be there for us in the midst of trouble. (Psalm 23:4, Psalm 73:23, Matt. 28:20) He told us to take heart, because he would give us peace. (John 16:33)

Whenever I hear the song, "True Colors," I always hear it as if Jesus was singing the words to me. "I see your true colors, shining through. I see your true colors, that's why I love you. So don't be afraid to show your true colors." Jesus wants us to be honest. He's not just talking about our words. He is also talking about our attitudes, our feelings, our emotions. Jesus wants us to show our emotions.

The truth is, everyone is going through something. We are all human. We all have the same emotions. We all need encouragement.

So why are we still putting on our masks?

We are supposed to be growing together. We are supposed to encourage one another. We are supposed to show each other our true colors, our emotions. After all, we're all in this together!

So take off your mask. Stop being fake. Be real. Surround yourself with people who are real and encouraging. Ask Jesus for peace, encouragement, and confidence through the troubles. He will give these things to you if you simply come to him in honesty!