The Harsh Truth of Your “Perfect Life”
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. Psalm 139:1–4
The alarm clock didn’t go off, your phone didn’t charge last night, you spilled coffee on your favorite shirt, the 10-year-old toaster won’t heat up the English muffin that has been in your pantry for three weeks, and somehow, your car keys fell down the sewer drain on the way out to your SUV that has needed an oil change for the past two months — and it’s not even 7:00 AM. Yet you still walk into your workplace with your head up, a smile on your face, and a “Good morning!” to each co-worker you pass because that is what is expected from you. Then, the next eight hours are packed with talking about how your son placed first at the swim meet, your daughter is competing at the local bake-off, and your baby finally said, “Mama” for the first time. Don’t get me wrong, all of these are amazing accomplishments. However, you failed to mention that your marriage is slipping through the cracks as you speak, your father has stage four prostate cancer and has three weeks left to live, and your mental health has been deteriorating due to the limitless demands of your job.
It’s hard to have it seemingly all together, all of the time.
But, guess what? I can bet one Benjamin Franklin that at least 80% of those co-workers you passed on the way to your desk had an extremely similar, chaotic, and stressful morning — just like you did. More so, I bet 95% of those co-workers are dealing with troubling situations and circumstances that never get brought up outside of the household. And they’re trying their best to hold it all together with their head up and a smile on their face — just like you did. And secretly, they want to break down, let it all out, and take the mask off of their artificial life — just like you do.
But do you want to know a beautiful truth? Jesus knows. He knows that your morning was a disorganized, messy start to the day. He knows that you put on a front at work and act like you have it all together when, in reality, you just want to stay in your bed and cry. He knows your marriage is at rock bottom, that your father is dying by the minute, and that your brain needs a pause button for at least ten days (but more like ten years).
Yes, He knows all of these things because you don’t — and can’t — put a mask on for God. He’s the perfect and all-knowing Father, so even if you wanted to, you simply cannot hide your real life from our Lord. And what’s even more fulfilling is that He doesn’t want you to. He doesn’t want you to act like you have it all together in front of Him. He says in His word, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28–30
God doesn’t want you to put on a fake face for Him, He literally tells us to bring our brokenness and burdens to Him so that He can give us rest! How amazing is our God that He would want all of our messed up lives and, in return, we get peace and serenity. We really are blessed to have such a faithful, loving Father.
So, when you are feeling like you have your muddled life covered up perfectly from the outside world, just know that Jesus sees everything. He sees the real you and your real life, and He is with you — waiting for you to come to Him with all of your troubles because His burden is light and He longs to give you rest.
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You are loved beyond measure. Romans 8:38–39
Macy ❤
