Masks We Wear

As women, we all wear different hats--wife, mother, teacher, nurse, writer, friend, etc. Many times we wear several at one time! The hats we wear represent different roles we have in life, some more constant than others. While many times we fill our closets with too many hats to juggle, having different roles in life is inevitable. We see that the Proverbs 31 woman wore various hats, in amazing fashion might I add.

The wearing of masks is what is of more concern to me. Women are care-takers and often put on masks covering pain and fear so as not to "bother" others or to protect themselves from rejection. How dangerous this is! I know from personal experience how much damage this can do.

For me, I have worn various masks during my life. One of those masks is what I call the "I got it under control" mask. As a firstborn, I grew up liking to be in control, being very achievement-oriented. I put forth the confident, dependable persona, even when I was struggling with insecurities. People came to expect this from me, which only exacerbated the mask-wearing on my part. Over time, God has really helped me to begin to put away those masks and be vulnerable and authentic in who He has created me to be. This has been freeing, and I long to see Christian women of all ages to put away the masks they wear that only bring bondage.

Why do we wear masks? I believe that most of the time our reasons are rooted in fear--fear that we don't measure up, fear that there is something wrong with us, fear of rejection, fear of failing. God' Word clearly states that we do not have to live in fear:

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. (I John 4:16,18)

As followers of Christ, we are called to live in victory over fear. God's perfect love extended to us allows us to live in His love, apart from the fear of punishment and rejection. James Baldwin writes:

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.

It is only His love that can help us to remove the masks in our lives. It is only when we accept that we are powerless in this. In many ways, wearing masks is sinful. We are choosing to live ruled by fear, eventually leading to a very self-centered life focused on maintaining an image or persona.

Our masks, always in peril of smearing and cracking, in need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware, keep us in thrall to ourselves, concerned with our surfaces.(Carolyn Kizer)

I pray that we all would evaluate our mask-wearing and claim God's promises that we are uniquely and intimately made by Him.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth. (Psalm 139:13-15)

So ladies, let's toss those masks aside. I would love to hear from you about the masks you struggle with. As women, may we seek to encourage one another through our struggles!

In Him . . . Kelly