Take off the Mask 🎭

Halloween is here! It’s hard to believe this time of year is upon us. Whether you participate by dressing up & trick-or-treating, or choose to forgo anything related to this “holiday”, I think we can all agree that there is something “dark” about this day. Masks will be worn, costumes will be assembled, and faces will be covered to look like something we are not.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love candy and any reason to have some fun. My husband and I usually dress up and get a free meal from Chipotle! It’s all enjoyable. Trunk-or-Treats and a good Harvest Fest always make the season fun. I’m not writing in hopes to persuade you one way or another on where you stand in regards to this holiday. In fact, I’m not even going to discuss my thoughts on that. What I want to discuss is this: on a holiday where so many people “hide” who they really are, there is but One who truly sees. And even beyond this holiday, I feel as though many times we “practice” Halloween year round by wearing masks, hiding what’s underneath, or “dressing up” as someone we’re not.

I recently read a well-known Psalms written by David. It’s one that I’ve read time and time again but something new jumped out. I love it when a familiar passage of Scripture teaches me something new! The Word IS alive & powerful!

You know it well, it’s Psalms 139. It’s a beautiful Psalm that talks about how we are fearfully and wonderfully made. All throughout the chapter we see that God is all-knowing. He knows our thoughts, sees everything, and is constantly present. There was never a time when we were unknown to God. (WOW!)

What jumped out at me this time around were verses 11-12. They say, “If I say, Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night – even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.” One commentator put it like this: “No veil can hide us from God; not the thickest darkness. No disguise can save any person or action from being seen in the true light by him.”

We cannot hide from God. We cannot put on a mask or a disguise and hide anything from our Creator. Darkness is as light to Him! He sees and He knows all things and all people (me and you!) And here is the best part: He loves us anyways.

David goes on to praise God for His omniscience and for taking care of Him. And then the end of the chapter says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (v. 23-24)

May we live in a way that, like David, begs God to search us, show us where we are wrong, and then lead us in the way of godliness.

It is a true gift to be seen and known by Him. He created each of us with a purpose. Why would we want to mask something He designed so intentionally?

Are you wearing a mask? Maybe it’s to hide insecurity, shame, or guilt. Maybe it’s the mask of perfection or happiness. Whatever it may be, God knows and He sees what is underneath.

This Halloween, I challenge you to take off the mask, be who God created you to be, take time to know Him intimately, (Psalms 139 is a good place to start!), and then as God works in your heart – determine to take that out into the world. Believers removing the “mask”, choosing authenticity, and loving like Jesus… that’s something the world needs more than candy! But candy might just be a good place to start! 😉