No More Masks

I had the most wonderful conversation with a very dear and close friend of mine last night. She is one of a few accountability partners I have. As we began to update each other on what had been happening in our lives over the last week, I found it pure joy to be able to confess my sins to her. To be able to share the stinky attitudes of my heart and the frustrations that had been filling my heart rather than the love of God.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV

What I realized as we shared about some of the circles and places we travel in, just how often we can set up places where transparency is not welcomed and being genuine and authentic is not accepted.

I found it ironic that we can say we are about transparency; but in reality we place expectations on people like “are they handling this well?” and we use that as our only mark of maturity on someone based upon what they are or are not doing in the moment.

A friend of mine, Graham, calls these “snap shot judgments”. We see one small aspect of a person’s life and we then we make snap shot judgments by only looking at one small sliver of their life. We determine so many things about them, without looking at the greater picture of who they are, what is in their heart and how they live their life.

As my friend and I talked about our struggles and about how to pray for one another this week, I found it so refreshing to be talking with someone where you do not have to wear a mask. You could be you - in a place of failure or sin, or struggle and still be a person in process with God and in process with people while wrapped in the most astonishing arms of grace.

You could be in a relationship where handling it well was not the objective but encouraging movement towards God and people were. And depending on how big the whammy you are working through - sometimes handling it well, well... just takes some time - to forgive, to heal, to reconcile, and to create movement once again towards God and people.

As her and I talked about this concept of "wearing masks", I kept thinking about the Psalms, and all those in Scripture who walked the journey of life and faith, and testing and trials. Making mistakes, and being moved along by grace. In my mind I walked through the gospels, and remembered how Jesus called the disciples and immediately empowered them. He released them into ministry - coaching them, rebuking them, teaching them, and guiding them towards maturity as He walked along side them. Jesus set up an atmosphere where failure and growth were a part of the deal.

As we chatted about the whole concept of wearing masks, I once again began to cry out that the Lord would make me into a woman who never wore a mask. That I would walk in so much of the grace of God both in failure and success, and always being open and at peace about where I am in my process of maturing in Christ.

There is something so sweet when you are around people of who are overflowing in grace. They permeate such a presence of Jesus, and all the shame and failures of yesterday or today fall off, and you are filled with the hope of tomorrow. You are filled with the truth and reality that Jesus accomplished it all for you. Hope, faith and confidence emerges like a flower in our hearts when people of grace are present in our midst.

People of grace ignite the Holy Spirit in us and then empower us to live a lifestyle of obedience and Kingdom impact. They call up the graces of God in people, and empower them.

Oh how my heart prays that His grace consumes every part of me - body, soul and spirit. To be overflowing with the true nature and character of God. Yet, at times, I feel so weak, and then I am reminded of the sustaining power of His grace in my weakest areas of my life. (which are many)!

A few years ago, someone I knew was telling me how I needed to trust them with my whole heart. 100% trust they were asking of me. If you read “my story” within this site, you will see why trust has been an issue for me. It is a place where I am still in process.

I left that meeting sobbing because I could trust this person with a certain measure of my heart. Then, a friend encouraged me. She said, “Lori, whether you trust 100% or only 5%, we are going to love you no matter how much you can trust”.

As she said that I sobbed some more. Her words expanded trust in my heart. I love people who are intentional with handing out grace.

The amazing thing about not wearing masks, is wearing a mask requires a lot of upkeep. I have learned that if I am open and honest with where I am at with those around me - there is less of a chance of the enemy taking me out through sin or temptation. Being vulnerable and open is key to staying close to God and to people.

Ministry and leadership teams need to become a safe place where people can be in process with God and not have expectations placed on them - to be perfect, to have arrived to maturity, or to be expected to always handle things well. We need to establish atmospheres of grace everywhere we go. Jesus' death paid the price for perfectionism.

Even David, a man after God’s own heart, struggled intensely with the human condition and the circumstances of life, of war, of sin. He wrote many of the Psalms from a place of struggle, intense emotion, and he did not always handle life well. BUT - He was called a man after God's own heart. David showed up, authentic, real,broken, angry - and he offered it all up to God. Bearing his soul open before God and man. And in this God could change his heart and his perspective on his circumstances and get David's eyes back on God.

We need to give people the freedom to be who they are - in each moment of their life as they walk this journey of faith.

Now hear me, I am not giving way for sin, or saying we do not aspire to be like Christ in all we do. Nor am I saying we do not need to allow God to touch the areas of pain or woundedness is us. We absolutely need to do that. The Lord calls us to honor the Lord with our lives. To live a Godly life and to lead others through example. I get this. I believe this. And I believe we get there by being quick to forgive and quick to repent.

What I am saying though, is we have to be careful to not set up cultural systems where people will wear masks because we have created expectations or an environment that is not safe because we do not allow people to in process with God and/or with people.

We need to be sure to be intentional with creating an atmosphere of grace with the relationships and ministry structures we walk in. Otherwise, we create an atmosphere where masks and a covered up heart will become the only option. And God is most glorified when man is fully alive (John Eldridge).

Dear Jesus,

First of all forgive me for any places where I still put on a mask when around unsafe or unhealthy people. Lord continue to be my strong tower, and my hiding place. Lord, your word says that you set a table in the presence of our enemies. Lord, may we understand the depth and power of living an authentic and transparent Christian life. May we always be people of grace, people who give people freedom to be in process with You and with others, and be shepherds who gentle lead the sheep to truth, while wrapping them in the most astonishing arms of grace. Grace empowers. Graces brings freedom. Grace is the most amazing gift Calvary purchased for us. Lord, may we know this thoroughly, in every fiber of our being may we become like sponges - soaking up grace. Lord, may everything in us that runs contrary to your gospel (Gal 1:6) fall off of me so that the world might see you, know you, and believe you.

Lord, empower me with your grace. I need you Jesus. In Your name I pray, Amen.