Take Off The Mask

Matthew 26:38,39 (NIV) 

'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death’ ... ‘Father...let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.’ 

Growing up in church, I’ve always been surrounded by an incredible community. I love our church. Yet, one aspect that has often frustrated me is our tendency for ‘toxic positivity’, pretending everything is OK when it isn't. Let’s play out a short scene at church after the gathering... 

'Hey, how are you doing mate?' asks an earnest friend.
'Yeah, great thanks,' I reply casually, despite having spent most of the previous hour or so agonising over my calling in life. 'What about you?' 'I’m good, thanks!' says the friend, grinning from ear to ear to mask the pain of unanswered prayer. 

That may sound dramatic, but I sense a lot of us feel pressurised to be a certain person at church: to exude the joy of the Lord at every possible moment; but in so doing we're equating joy with an outward show of happiness, making toxic positivity a shallow substitute for faith. 

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus himself expressing deep anguish and pain to his friends, James and John. Jesus didn’t dress up his pain in faux-optimism. He was straight to the point: this sucks and I’m hurting. 

When you come to church, when you pray to God, when you talk with your christian friends...be real. By being honest with one another and God, just as Jesus was, we become authentic followers of Christ - those who put their hope and trust in the promises of the Father, yes, but who also acknowledge and lament the hardship, pain and difficulties of life. Next time someone in church asks you how you are, perhaps tell them? 

Prayer — Father God, thank you that we can put our trust and hope in you. Help me to be honest with my friends and family about the struggles I may face. Help me to model a life of vulnerability.