I have a collection of masks. They aren’t really the kind you wear, but they look interesting hanging on a wall. Since we moved seven years ago, those masks remain in the box they were packed in. I haven’t found a place to put them, so they remain hidden. I guess you could say they’re still doing what they were intended to do – hiding.

Women use face masks to improve the condition of their skin, to remove blackheads and exfoliate.  Masks are brought out at Halloween to alter the identity.  Masks are used during surgical events, in a doctor’s office and to prevent germs from passing from one person to another. We all got used to wearing masks for the past three years to prevent the spread of disease. Masks are useful in a lot of ways. They can be used to hide our own personality and display an entirely different one.  Artificial masks can be purchased for just about any occasion.  Masks have been used to hide, to recreate, to reenact, to entertain and to frighten. We often use an invisible mask to hide our inner feelings or to cover up the fear or anxiety that lies within us. These appendages to the face have a long history. The Greeks used them in their dramatic productions to portray specific personality traits. They had not yet learned to project, I guess.

When we go through certain trials of life, we may try to hide behind a mask, but somehow the truth displays itself after a while. When our hearts are breaking and things look hopeless, there is nothing that will obscure our true feelings. At that point we need to hide in Jesus. He is our Savior, our Champion, the Redeemer who has guaranteed us a place in heaven. As age takes over and years paint a completely different mask on our faces, we can always count on Jesus to protect us. He will give us confidence to do what we need to do. He will stay the course through all our difficulties. He will never leave us, and He loves us with unconditional love.

“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5 ESV