Masks

So we finally went to the shops on Wednesday, the first time since March. Though it was a bit strange being able to leave lockdown, it was good to wander around a shopping mall. Sadly there were a few shops shuttered and one or two which have obviously closed their doors for good, but the biggest change was that most people were wearing masks. Visibly. A variety of colours, styles, and effectiveness. And we realised how much we rely on seeing a person’s whole face to gauge their reactions, emotions, feelings. The new normal I suppose. 

But don’t we all wear invisible masks? You know, that response we give to the question, “How are you today?”  And we respond, “Fine”. We have our “mask” on. That shutter we raise when we want to hide what is really going on inside of us, hiding the hurts, hiding the anger, hiding what we don’t want others to see.

The Bible says quite a lot about wearing masks. A well-known verse is in 1 Samuel 16, where it says, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” We can’t hide what is within us from God’s penetrating, all-seeing gaze. 

How is your heart today? Are you hurting inside, feeling down, struggling with your thoughts and emotions? But however you feel, you have that assurance that God sees your heart, and He knows what you are going through. Allow His Spirit to flood into your heart today, bringing healing and wholeness, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4).