the many masks: a message to us girls

One of the downfalls of being in ministry is the constant pressure and burden to "have it all together"; the mask of perfection...and its not just in ministry you find this. Maybe you've felt it before or are feeling it now. Maybe your parents unintentionally pressure you to make the perfect grades, while balancing the perfect amount of extra curricular activities, while being involved within your church, while looking into the best colleges so that medical school is in your future. Or, maybe you're in a relationship where you feel the need to always have on the cutest outfit with your hair and make up perfect.

[Side note: There is a time and place for getting all "dolled up"...don't get me wrong, one of my favorite things to do is put on some heels, curl my hair, take the time to do my make up, and watch my husband do that double take when he sees me...but you should never feel you have to do that! I was in a relationship for 4 years with a guy that I felt I always had to look "perfect" in order to be with him. Nothing against him at all, he is a wonderful man and now has a beautiful family of his own, but something made me feel I always had to "look good" when I was with him (maybe it had something to do with the fact that he used to model and regardless of where he was, he always had to look good...I don't know) but I always told myself, the next guy I date, I'm going to make sure I show up to our first date in gym clothes with no make up on...that way he'll see me at my worst from the start and that pressure won't be there. Not even thinking about that previous promise I made to myself, Bryant asked me on our first date...I declined- ha! I was leading a middle school girls bible study and already had plans for a lock in that night. But, luckily he asked again...the next day, which was a Saturday, I met him and Bryson at the river walk to ride bikes...guess what I was in? Yep, you guessed it--nike shorts, a t-shirt & ZERO make up.]

Maybe you're in a position of leadership at your place of business, with people always looking to you for advice and guidance. Or, maybe you feel there are too many people watching you, just waiting for you to fail, so you stay hidden by the mask of perfection; never allowing the world to see the raw you. I've been in all of those places once before in my life. Now I find myself in the job of my dreams, one that I am certain the Lord called me to many years ago, and yet I still find myself struggling with these masks. Am I standing on common ground with anyone else? 

I love what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." 

See, He knew the hurt we would carry; the constant battle to feel "good enough" and the desire to want to seem like we have it all together. But, if we have it all together, if we're sufficient on our own, if everything in life is perfect for us...what was the point of Him coming? He came for the broken, the widow, the girl who will never know her dad and struggles with her identity because of that, the man who constantly fights a battle of depression, the couple that can't conceive a child, the young adult who feels they will never find the person the Lord created for them, the single mother who works two jobs in order to keep her family afloat, the person who is so lost in their web of lies they can't remember the truth, and even for those people who think they're too good for a Savior.  He knew the hurt this life would create and He beckons us to find rest in Him. Nothing this world has to offer, no person, no amount of earthly things, no "good time" is going to give you rest. You will remain restless until you find rest in Him. 

LET ME TALK TO THE YOUNG LADIES REAL QUICK: 

Your confidence is not found in good pictures, a good looking man in your life, accolades or the perfect body size. I feel that many times we pick up these masks because we're basing our confidence on things of this world. Here's a perfect example: I AM PREACHING TO MYSELF RIGHT HERE!! How many times have you gone through all the filters on instagram until you find the perfect one that makes you look just right? If you don't like how you look in the picture with it being in color, black and white always looks better, right? 

Take a look at these first 4 pictures...all of which have a filter on them.  

Now take a look at the true picture below. Big difference, huh? You can see the patchiness (if that's even a real word) of my skin, how big my forehead is, how my eye brows desperately need to be plucked, how white I am (going to the beach next weekend, so that will be fixed) & how my right eye is slightly more crooked than my left eye in the original picture. All of these imperfections seemed to be masked or camouflaged by these filters. 

 I am by no means against filters...I like looking tan when I'm pasty white in the winter, but my security is not tied to how I look in a picture, or in the mirror for that case! I think all too often us ladies can get lost behind the mask of filters or photoshop and too easily our security becomes look based...just the opposite of what Christ showed us! 

Colossians 3:3 says "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Do you see what Paul is saying? If not, listen up! You are not called to be hidden behind a mask, but hidden within Christ! Your confidence is based on Jesus Christ, nothing else! 

"...being confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

When He created you, He created a masterpiece...and His word promises, that if we allow Him, He will continue that good work. I don't know about you, but I would much rather the Lord continue a good work with me than to constantly be held down and mocked by this world's standards!  It's time for us to set aside the masks. It's okay to be broken and have flaws. No one likes to be around that person who boasts about having it all together (which, I'm sure if they're honest, their life is just as scarred and jaded as ours are)...there's comfort in knowing the God we serve is daily scooping up the ashes of our lives and making beauty. Jesus didn't say, love the perfect ones as I have loved the perfect ones...not at all! He said, "A new commandment I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another." John 13:34  He loved us despite our flaws. 

I challenge you: take off the mask. Be real, raw and genuine. Allow the Lord to use your weaknesses to prove His strength in your life and in the lives of others. Don't allow satan to use this world's standards to set the tone for your confidence. You were created by the King of Kings! HE delights in YOU! You were chosen, called and set apart! Allow Christ to shine through the cracks of your life...don't cover Him up with a mask! You don't need to have it all together in order to be used by the Lord. In fact, the more I live, the more I think the Lord chooses those who have many shortcomings...for in their weakness, it is He who is strong and all glory is given to Him. I'll leave you with this verse...

"For the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap." Proverbs 3:26

All my love~ Chelsea 





PS- the mask I used in the opening picture is Glacial Clay Spa masks. You can buy them at Walmart/Target for $1 - $2 in the mud formula or the pre-packaged mask that you put over your face; both are great and make your face feel super soft and help with acne and blemishes. I highly recommend them! You'll look funny for about 20 minutes, but hey, it gave my husband something to laugh at for a little while and I came out with super soft skin :)