As a child, I didn't enjoy Halloween. I didn't particularly enjoy dressing up in a costume. I did not enjoy going trick or treating and seeing familiar people in costumes and masks. I was frightened when people put a fake mask over who they really were.
Going through life, I am often finding that during hard times, it is much easier to place a happy mask over my face during the times that my face does not naturally smile. Despite that, even though I am telling everyone that everything is fine. I am all happy inside. In spite of that, I am really lying...and that is a sin.
I love the song "When I'm With You", by Citizen Way. Particularly this stanza:
Everything's not fine
And I'm not okay
But it's nice to know
I can come this way
And I'm not okay
But it's nice to know
I can come this way
The song is really speaking of coming to God and being honest with Him during our prayers. I know from personal experience that God honors honest and bold prayers. Even though God knows everything about us, even the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7) and our prayers before we even speak them (Matthew 6:8). He wants and desires to hear our needs from our very own lips.
I also feel that God wants us to be honest with each other. Recently, I was feeling quite glum. Later that evening, I had a friend call me and tell me about her bad day. I was sorry that my friend was having a bad day, however it was a blessing to be needed that evening. It was an honor for me to lift her up in prayer and to encourage her. Since then, she has also had the opportunity to lift me up on a rough day or two. And because of that, our friendship has gotten closer.
I feel that we are often times not honest with each other because we do not want to "bother" someone with what we feel like are pity problems. Although, I also feel that the Devil desires for us to be alone in our struggles. When we are alone in our struggles the Devil can plant evil thoughts into our heads. When we give our true self to God and to others, we can be filled with hope.
In summary, take your mask off today and be real...to others and to God!
