Locations & Times

When you hear the word “church,” what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a white-steepled building with stained glass windows. Inside, people exchange polite greetings, neatly dressed, and sitting on colorful padded chairs arranged in perfect rows. Everything looks calm, and composed, like life is all neatly in place.

But look closer, and you’ll notice something beneath the surface. Behind the smiles and friendly nods, many carry hidden struggles. You might even see something almost tangible…masks.

Not literal masks, but ones designed to cover up pain, fear, guilt, or doubt. I know this because I’ve worn them too.

Growing up, I learned to hide my struggles behind a carefully constructed façade. Everyone around me seemed to have it all together, and the idea of someone seeing the real me—my flaws, my fears—felt unbearable. So, I perfected the “everything’s fine” smile and kept my struggles safely tucked away.

But as I’ve grown in my understanding of Jesus and His gospel, I’ve realized how much life we miss when we hide behind those masks.

The truth? I still wear them sometimes—knowingly or not.

And I know I’m not alone.

We all do it, don’t we? We shield ourselves from judgment, avoid shame, and protect our hearts from rejection. But what if we didn’t have to?

The Freedom of Being Known

When you look at the life of Jesus, something remarkable stands out: He never wore a mask. He didn’t pretend to be someone He wasn’t, and He had an incredible way of cutting through the layers people used to hide their true selves.

One of the clearest examples is in John 4, the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well. She came to draw water during the heat of the day, likely avoiding the judgmental stares and whispers of others. She was hiding—ashamed of her reputation and the weight of her past.

But on this day, Jesus was there, waiting for her.

With just four words, “Give me a drink,” Jesus gently tugged at her mask. He broke through layers of cultural barriers—gender, politics, and religion—with a single request. He didn’t avoid her or judge her; He engaged her. As their conversation unfolded, Jesus lovingly revealed her struggles—not to shame her, but to offer her something far greater: living water.

When her mask began to crack and fall, she didn’t retreat in fear or embarrassment. Instead, she ran into town, her voice bold, declaring, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did!” (John 4:29).

What gave her that courage?

At that moment, she realized she didn’t have to hide anymore. Jesus didn’t reject her because of her past or flaws. He met her where she was and invited her into freedom, healing, and purpose.

What If We Removed Our Masks?

What if the church became a place where we didn’t need to hide?

What if we believed that Jesus didn’t come to save the polished and masked versions of ourselves? He came to save the real, raw, and messy us. I mean He did say, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Mark 2:17).

What if, instead of striving for perfection, we built communities of authenticity where stories of doubt, pain, failure, and redemption could be shared freely? Imagine a space where someone could say, “I’m not okay,” and hear, “Me too. You’re welcome here.”

Jesus doesn’t want our masks; He wants us. He sees every high and low in your life and longs to redeem your story for His glory and the good of others.

So, let me ask…what would it take for you to drop your mask today? What would it look like to trust Jesus and others with your real self?

Like the woman at the well, what if letting your mask fall brought freedom that changed everything? What if you were no longer defined by shame but by the grace and love Jesus freely offers?

The Invitation

It’s time to stop hiding.

Let’s show the world that Jesus’ grace is big enough for every bad choice, failure, wound, and scar. And…here’s something powerful to remember: Jesus has scars too.

His scars from the cross, are His invitation to lay down your masks and find healing, freedom, and life in Him.  Imagine sitting with Jesus, like the Samaritan woman, and hearing Him say, “I see you. I love you. You don’t have to hide anymore”.

It’s time to let the masks fall. Will you join me?