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Mardi Gras is here, and the streets are alive—music pumping, beads flying, people laughing, king cake everywhere. And, of course, the famous Mardi Gras masks. Some are over-the-top, covered in sequins and feathers. Others are simple, just enough to blend in.
But let’s be real—most of us don’t take them off when the parade ends.
Not the ones with glitter and ribbons. The ones we wear every day.
The “I’m fine” mask when we’re anything but.
The “I’ve got it all together” mask when we feel like a mess inside.
The “I don’t care” mask when, deep down, we just want to be loved.
I know that feeling. I’ve worn those masks too—smiling, making jokes, keeping things light while feeling completely alone inside. It’s easier to pretend, to keep things surface-level, to make sure no one sees the parts of us that feel weak or broken. But you know what’s exhausting? Keeping that mask in place. Because no matter how good we get at faking it, there’s always that nagging voice whispering, Would they still love me if they really knew me?
Jesus Sees the Real You
There’s this moment in the Bible where Jesus meets a woman at a well (John 4). She wasn’t exactly living her best life. In fact, she was avoiding people altogether—hiding in plain sight. And yet, Jesus saw her. Like, really saw her. He knew everything about her—her story, her shame, her struggles—and instead of backing away, He moved closer.
And that’s exactly what He does with you.
He’s not waiting for the polished, church-friendly version of you. He’s not impressed by the false smiles or the carefully curated social media persona. He wants the real you—the messy, complicated, “still figuring it out” you. And the best part? He already knows everything about you, and He still calls you His.
So, What Do We Do?
Because let’s be honest—just saying “Take the mask off!” sounds nice, but it’s scary, right? So here’s where we start:
- Be real with God. No fancy words, no pretending. Just tell Him what’s actually on your heart. He already knows anyway.
- Let people in. Find at least one person you can be honest with. Life isn’t meant to be filtered and edited.
- Remember who you actually are. Not the image you try to maintain. Not what people expect you to be. You are fully known and fully loved (Galatians 4:7).
Real Freedom Starts Here
Mardi Gras will come and go. The beads will hit the ground, the king cake will disappear, and the masks will get tossed in a drawer until next year.
But what if you didn’t pick your mask back up?
What if you stopped pretending? What if you let yourself be seen—flaws and all—and trusted that the people who really matter (especially Jesus) will love you anyway?
The weight of pretending is heavier than you think. But the freedom of being seen and loved? That’s worth it.
And the best part? You don’t have to be anything other than exactly who you are.