“Taking off the Mask!”

There comes a time when we must learn not to be afraid to be transparent. Masking our feelings often serves one purpose, which is to keep us broken and in bondage. Learning to be real and authentic in how we feel day by day can be difficult. We have conditioned ourselves to say, “I am good. I am ok” when someone asks us how we are doing. We don’t want people to know how we truly are feeling and what we may be experiencing. The truth is sometimes we are not alright. Yes, we are to speak positively because our words do have power, but there comes the time when we need to face our brokenness so that healing can one day take place within us. Wearing a mask allows us to hide and not come face to face with our hurt and pain. It also causes others not to see the real person. When we feel broken, behaviors, and feelings that we don’t usually display can come forth quickly, such as anger, sadness, depression, sometimes hatred, and the list goes on.

Having a support system is essential when we are experiencing broken feelings. Going through painful experiences alone can be even more difficult to bear. So how long do we carry our burden alone? Who do we trust enough, so we can be transparent and hopefully gain some support? I can’t give you a timeline or tell you who to choose, but I do know from my personal experiences that walking this journey of brokenness alone can be heart-wrenching. Yes, God will give us the strength, resolve, and know how to get us through our brokenness. He is the one who ultimately will mend our broken pieces, but He also has placed people in our life who can take this earthly walk with us.

I remember when I felt that I needed to remove my mask because the pain was more than what I wanted to bear alone. At that time, I decided to talk to my pastor. One Sunday, I was extremely burdened, and before Sunday School, I asked the pastor if I could speak to him. We talked through Sunday School and the beginning of service (I didn’t mean to take that much of his time, especially during service). He was so patient in listening as I poured out my heart to him. He had no idea what I had been experiencing. He was never judgmental, nor did he point any fingers at anyone. I knew that I could trust him to give me wise counseling and to keep our discussion confidential. That was a turning point for me. I felt a sense of relief.

It’s not easy being transparent because it causes others to see more clearly who we are. Removing the mask shows the reality of our life that it is not as perfect as it appears to be, but that’s alright because I have learned in general that we are either going through something or just came through something or about to go through something. Life is good, but it’s not perfect. People often place us on a pedestal, and we feel by any means necessary, we have to hold fast to that image. We don’t. I don’t choose to walk this journey alone, which means sometimes I have to take off the mask. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Psalms 34:17. I’ll be back next week with a new post, “Think Positive!”
Be encouraged, and God bless!
Sister Jackie

This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Rita Preston

    Thank you for sharing. This awesome.

  2. Sis. Jackie

    Thank you so much for your encouraging words. God bless you.

  3. Audrey

    Beautiful Testimony Sis. So true, it is not easy to determine who to trust, whom to openly, freely, with no inhibitions, whom to talk to about our personal lives, our pains and deep sorrows to, and, likewise, who to also talk to about our joys, accomplishments and blessings. But, as you said, God always provides what we need in every area of our life, and, we have to first acknowledge our “need” to reach out to another human being before we are able to release and pour out to them, then, recognize who that “someone” is that God has placed in our life for this. And sometimes, that person is not someone that we recognized as “trustworthy”, or even as someone we should tell it to. I am a witness too, that God has provided someone on many occasions for me too, to honestly pour out to. And for this, I am so grateful. For, as you know, the mask is harmful to the wearer, and it keeps them in bondage. I am so delighted for your healing my Sister-in-Christ, for it opened this door for you to be able to share this intimate experience with others, that they may be free too, that we all may learn of a better way. Stay Encouraged, Stay Free, and Stay Strong. Love You MUCH!!!

  4. Sis. Jackie

    You truly blessed me with your heartfelt words and encouragement. Yes, God will use our pain and healing to help others who are hurting and feel so alone. I thank God for my journey because it took me to another level in Him. We don’t choose the path of our life, but it always works to our good when we allow Jesus to lead us. Thank you and God bless you.

  5. Karen

    Praise God, Praise God! This is such a Blessing of encouragement, hope and healing. Thank you for sharing and to willimgly be God’s instrument to help me (and so many others)!!!

  6. Sis. Jackie

    Thank you my sister! You have always given me so much encouragement and support. God bless you.

Leave a Reply