Are You Hiding the Real You? Do You Want to Stop?
My grandmother called it “putting on” her face.
Makeup.
Concealer, foundation, blush, shadow, eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss.
I refuse to leave the house without makeup. I’ve even been known to go into surgery wearing a little mascara. I know you’re supposed to go under the knife sans products, but I just feel so naked without lashes and lip gloss.
Do you feel exposed and vulnerable without concealer and color?
Standing in front of the mirror the other morning, I realized I not only put concealer on superficial flaws; I also have plenty of imperfections on the inside I’m constantly trying to cover up and hide. Weaknesses and worries, pride and selfishness, bad habits and lousy motives . . . the list goes on and on and on.
I have this daydream that with enough concealer my sins just won’t look that bad . . . even to God.
O God, You know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from You. Psalm 69:5
You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them. Proverbs 28:13
It’s time to stop kidding myself. To stop hiding the real me. Care to join me? Are you ready to stop hiding the real you?
[Tweet “The truth is—caked on makeup looks ridiculous. It settles in our wrinkles and makes us look older.”]
Trying to put spackle over my sins doesn’t work any better. I will always end up miserable and guilt ridden. Not to mention Looking hypocritical to the people around me.
Are you guilty too?
Now I’m not suggesting we should spill every detail of our lives publicly. But it’s important to take our makeup off before God. To honestly pour ourselves out and reveal the truth.
Telling Him our fears and faults and our worries and weaknesses. Not for Him. He knows. But for us. You and I need to take off our false faces and admit our need for grace and mercy.
Because once you and I KNOW how much God loves and forgives us . . . we get better at loving and forgiving each other.
We love better when we admit we’re not perfect. When we stop judging and criticizing. Stop biting and devouring. Stop criticizing and condemning.
I get it! Many of us learned to “put on our faces” at church.
Many faith families expect spackled faces.
Ask yourself:
1. Do the people at my church welcome everyone even those with exposed faults? Do I?
2. Do my friends and I gossip about the people who have exposed messes and call them prayer requests?
3. Do we rant about and condemn some sins while we excuse others? Do I?
4. Do you act friendly and nice at church but demanding and critical when you’re at stores and restaurants or at home?
5. Do you_____________________ (What would you add?)
I know. We’re all guilty at times. That’s why it’s time to…
Take off our makeup! By:
Stopping and intentionally listening to each other.
Making a deliberate effort to trust that everyone is trying to do the best they know how.
Getting “real” and humble before God and each another.
Let’s love better. Our neighbors…
And ourselves. No makeup. Honest.
Cleansed and fresh. Loved and forgiven. And equipped to love and forgive others.
Last week I shared how I Learned an Important Truth in the Hall of Locked Doors and how God showed me things I needed to surrender to Him. Today I’m inviting you to join me in admitting to we need forgiveness. We need each other. We need love.
I’m a mess. But by God’s grace—I’m a forgiven mess.
No finger-pointing here. Just love at the intersection of faith and life.
I love the way you’ve compared this to wearing makeup, Deb. I am sure to wear some makeup wherever I go as well. I find that to be especially true as I get older and feel less happy with my “natural” self. And just like my outside, I project a false self–the self that is covered by my brand of “image management.” But the only one who needs to manage my image is the One I’m created in the image of! 😉 So hard to get to that point, though, Deb. Thanks for your great words of challenge!
Beth, Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I needed this one myself. Always need that reminder to be real and just love one another. Sounds like heaven doesn’t it? Enjoy a bless-filled Monday!
There was a time, Deb, when I wouldn’t be caught dead in public or even around the house without my make-up on. Then one day, my husband looked at me and said I was just as beautiful to him without it. Know what? I no longer put my “face” on every day! And I feel great about myself. Let’s hope I’m doing the same on the inside when it comes to being honest with the Lord. Asking Him to help me always be the real me before Him because of His unfailing love and grace.
Thanks for the inspiration today!
Martha, What a blessing to have a dh who encourages the real you. Rev tells me the same. I’m much better about not wearing much makeup at home, but still won’t go out without it. Thankful the Lord is encouraging me to be the real me on the inside.
Found you via Me, Coffee, and Jesus link-up! I’ve had a lot of the same thoughts on my heart lately, and you put them wonderfully. 🙂
Aw Sarah, Thank you so much! I’m so glad you visited and that you stopped to say hello. Many blessings to you!
Very insightful and a great reminder to just be ourselves. I still love my makeup but I totally get the point about uncovering the real you!
I still like my makeup too Tiffany. Just keep trying to keep it from caking in my wrinkles. 🙂
Yes, Amen.
Makes me think of the verse where Jesus talks about the outside of the cup being clean, while the inside is dirty.
Thanks for sharing, Deb. 🙂
You’re right Brenda. It’s what’s inside that matters most. Thankful for grace reminding me to keep it real. Many blessings to you!
Such an interesting read, it really made me take a look in the mirror. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you Crystal! I so appreciate your encouragement!
Deb ~ This is SO good. And I LOVE the throwback to our grandmas calling it “putting on their face.” Made me smile. I’m sharing your post this week on FB and Twitter.
Thank you Christi! You are a consistent blessing to me! Enjoy a wonderful evening!
Deb,
This is so true…the more honest we are before God, when He knows anyway, the more we receive His love, grace and forgiveness so we can then pass it on to others…Wonderful post 🙂
You’re right Dolly! What do I think I’m hiding. He knows my heart. Working hard to remember that and stay real! Blessings to you!
Great post, Deb! I’m always amazed to learn that many people believe they are sin-less. Such a lack of self-awareness is dangerous! Literally! It’s so important to be aware and honest about our sins before God, and just as important to accept His forgiveness. Have a blessed week!
I think comparisons are dangerous. We like to compare ourselves to one another, but if my only comparisons are to a perfect holy God . . . I am humbled by His grace and free to be the real me. Thanks so much for stopping by. God bless you!
Hello fellow Deb! We all need Jesus so desperately. We all have our unique struggles. We really do need to cut each other some slack don’t we? I admit that I haven’t given grace sometimes when I should have given it freely. After all, I’ve been given grace. I’ve been lavished on. I didn’t deserve it.
That’s always my prayer Debbie . . . to extend the same grace I have received. Amazing and undeserved. Many blessings to you!
Oh, yes, Deb! I’m just one hot mess most days…but one hot forgiven mess. And praise God for that! <3 I love your analogy here today and I’ll take it with me tomorrow morning in the mirror as I “put on my face” (because that’s exactly what I tell my kids, too!) and be reminded that God sees and knows all and that’s the best reminder of all. <3 Thank you for this.
What a beautiful post! I loved what you said at the end, about being a forgiven mess…so true! The more closely I walk with the Lord and know of His LOVE for me, the quicker I am able to forgive others and walk in love for others! God is so good! Thanks for you great post!! your fellow sojourner @ CBB – Johanna 🙂
“Making a deliberate effort to trust that everyone is trying to do the best they know how.” –> This is something a hard season in my own life taught me. People assume many things. 🙂 Thanks for linking up at #ThreeWordWednesday.
Yes, God has convicted me of this lately, trying to pretend I’m better than others, then judging them. I’m a SINNER saved by GRACE. And I would do well to never forget that. Thank you, for this call to transparency.
Here from Grace and Truth link up.
Deb, this is great! Thanks for sharing at Women With Intention Wednesdays! 🙂