When THE FACE Comes Off

There is a saying that is referred to as, “Putting ON FACE.”

It’s a new millennial phrase that refers to the ability to pretend or make sure what others see on the outside is the made-up, happy, best version of ourselves and of our lives. I believe it’s a phrase that has become a toxic epidemic that has sought to rob the world, it’s people, and our generations of true, authentic living.

It breeds pride, selfishness, jealousy, envy, discontentment, and dishonesty.

No where in scripture do I see Jesus commanding us to pretend to have it all together. To fake it. To make sure no one sees the truth of ourselves. To never show our sadness, our hurt, or our sin. In fact, Jesus called hypocrisy and fake-ness out. He urged people to live honest lives.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”-Matthew‬ ‭23:27-28‬ ‭

A few years back when I was in nursing school, I experienced extreme face breakouts and acne. I had never struggled with acne EVER in my life, so it completely caught me off guard. The acne would create severe dark spots, blemishes and acne scars. I tried everything in my power to get rid of them but nothing worked. So I resorted to what I felt could hide it.

Putting on face…

I would cake my face with layers on top of layers of makeup. I was a person that hardly wore makeup but I was willing to do something out of my norm to cover what I wanted to be hidden.

EVERY night I was reminded of the truth when I took the make up off. The truth was, I STILL had many acne marks, scars, and blemishes on my face. The make up was a temporary fix.

The make up didn’t heal it, it just hid it.

Many of us, do the same thing everyday. Maybe not in a literal sense, but in a spiritual and emotional sense we do. We “put on face” for the world and people around us. We pretend like everything is perfect. We put on make up. The make up we use may be different for each of us.

Your make up may be..

Appearing to be super positive and faith-filled. Appearing to always be happy and have a word of encouragement but you’re the same person that is struggling with depression and crying yourself to sleep every night.

Your make up may be..

Being super helpful and the person that is able to accomplish and handle any and everything. You consume yourself with work, or helping others only to mask your severe insecurity of never feeling good enough, important or of value.

Your make up may be..

A false social media facade. You post the perfect pictures of you and your significant other, meanwhile in reality you all argue every day, there is no true intimacy within your relationship, and there’s no real peace within the relationship.

Your make up may be..

You appear to be the perfect family. Your kids appear to be excelling in school or in their careers but in reality your family is falling apart. One kid left the Lord. The other is addicted to drugs or another may have shut you and your spouse out emotionally.

Your make up may be..

Appearing to be a devout Christian. You attend every bible class and service and you’re very involved with your congregation. All the while, you’re living a life of fornication, you watch pornography on a consistent basis, or you’re a person filled with jealousy, anger, and hatred towards others.

Life has taught me this: There WILL come a time where “The FACE WILL COME OFF!” This may be voluntarily or involuntarily but believe me when I say there will be a day where all the make up will come off and your truth will come forth.

That day may be when your spouse presents divorce papers to you or tells you they are leaving.

That day may be when you, your child or your girlfriend has a baby out of wedlock.

That day may be when your house goes into foreclosure,  you’re evicted from your apartment or your car is repossessed.

That day may be when you or a loved one is diagnosed with a life threatening illness.

That day may be when you lose a loved one.

That day may be when you have a mental and emotional breakdown and feel as though you are on the verge of psychosis.

Or that day may be when you choose to take off the mask and seek proper healing.

My true healing with my acne came about when I faced reality and sought help. I went to the doctor and found out that my acne was being caused by internal issues. I was experiencing a hormonal imbalance, the foods that I was eating was exacerbating the acne and the stress and lack up sleep from nursing school was playing a factor. My doctor prescribed me medicine, and told me to seek to have a balanced diet, proper sleep and consistent exercise in my life.

It’s when I sought to stop putting on face and sought to be healed from the inside out, that my true healing came about. I had to face the scars and blemishes head on to find the true beauty that was within.

So friend I want to encourage you, going into this new year. STOP putting on FACE. Be honest about your internal brokenness and spiritual ugliness that is within your life.

Face the reality that..

Your dating relationship may be very unhealthy and toxic. This may not be the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with and that means you will have to have the courage to walk away.

Face the reality that..

Your marriage may be on the brinks of divorce. That you may have married for a sexual experience, for money, status, or appearance but none of that matters now. You all are not at peace. God is not at the center and you all are in a deep pits of loneliness and swimming in pools of toxicity and emotional abuse.

Face the reality that..

You may have deep insecurities that are the driving force of every decision you make. You can never keep true and lasting friendships because you’re too afraid to be vulnerable with people. Or you’re afraid to open your heart to others because you’re afraid of being hurt again. So you let fear and anxiety rule your life..

It is when the pain becomes so great and desperation gets overwhelming suffocating that the need to put on FACE will disappear. The need to be FREE will be greater than the desire to be FAKE. That is when TRUTH comes forth because it is only the TRUTH that sets us FREE.

That truth my friend is the TRUTH of JESUS CHRIST.

Jesus hasn’t called us to live a perfect life but to bring all our imperfect ugliness and brokenness to His feet. To allow His love, His power, and saving grace to fully and completely heal us.

When I stopped putting on FACE in my own life, that’s when true freedom came for me. I now realize I don’t have to prove anything to anyone or pretend for anyone. I am an imperfectly, broken sinner in need of the grace, mercy and love of God..every single day.

I’m FAR from perfect and that is completely ok with Jesus.

Going into year 2018 I want to encourage us ALL to let the “FACE COME OFF..” Seek peace, freedom, and healing by living an honest and truthful life in Jesus Christ.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””-John‬ ‭8:32‬ ‭

Be encouraged.

May the Lord continue to bless you abundantly!

With love,
Ashley Moneet
Fearless.Faithful.Following

Happy New Year!

*Phrase of 2018,

“Stop putting on FACE and simply let the FACE COME OFF.”