Dropping the Mask: Bringing Your True Self to God

"Cast all your anxieties upon Me, for I care for you." — 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

You can be one person on the outside and a different person on the inside. We all know the experience of putting on the right mask, the right face, saying the right things to the right people at the right times. Yet, underneath we have quite a different feeling going down.

As humans, we're good at wearing masks. We're good at covering up the true motivations of our heart and good at coming up with the right words to the right people without really letting on how we feel. Now, of course, some of this is civility: being polite and having good manners. But there is a greater challenge for us as human beings - and that is to be consistent in life.

In other words, what our outward appearances portray, is in congruence with our inner feelings: that the words of our lips are consistent with the motivations of our heart. That what we say about people is in fact the way we feel about them. Now our body language and our behaviour over time will often give away what we are truly feeling underneath. In fact, you can only cover up your true feelings for so long before eventually the pressure builds up and out comes what you are really feeling: the motivations of your heart.

So Jesus challenges us to deal with those things that are under the surface—our feelings and our emotions. And the best vehicle He gave for this was the vehicle of prayer. He said cast all your anxieties upon Me, for I care for you. God understands us and He's there to build a consistency that helps us to deal with our own emotional makeup and also to be a blessing to those around about us.

Reflection/Action:
What anxieties do you need to give over to God? Determine afresh to relinquish your control of them by asking God to carry your burdens and bring resolve. Before God you can't wear a mask! He knows your anxieties and fears! So 'let go and let God'! It's easier than you might think. As we let God carry our worries and insecurities, He replaces it with His peace! Prayer is such a release valve to the anxieties of life!