Women have a need for friendships. And our friendships often run deeper than men’s relationships. Men like to “do things” with their friends. Women want to “know things” about each other. Sure, we like to do things together too, like shopping! But we want to talk about things while we do it! Girls are naturally drawn to each other and develop deep relationships. That’s why a girl’s first experience with heartache may have been over a lost “best friend” rather than a “boy friend.” Women value friendships and when they are lost, we grieve them.
Women don’t’ grieve just over the friendship itself, but also for the secrets shared, the trust given and the acceptance enjoyed. If betrayed, the pain runs deep. No one can cause you more harm than someone who you have trusted in deeply.
Think about your best friend in high school. No one knew you better. She knew who you had a crush on, which schoolmate you are afraid of, who you allowed to kiss you on the first date. Your best friend knew that you still kept your Barbie’s and that you listen to Barry Manilow records at home, though you deny it in public. Your best friend knew that you cried for a week when Donny Osmond got married. And that you tore up all of your posters and mailed them to him. She knew everything there was to know about you.
Most of us can also recall a situation when our trusted friend hurt us. Maybe she proved to have looser lips than we expected and spilled our secrets. The pain cut you like a knife. And if it happened more than once, you probably started to put up some walls even then. That is when it starts – the creation of the mask. The “you” that you are willing to let the world see.
May be this describes you. We’ve all been there—exchanging one mask for another depending on who we are with or where we are going. We are desperately trying to fit in.
There are two verses I’d like to share with you today:
Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
I tell my daughter, “You were not created to fit in but to stand out through your own God-given uniqueness.” You were, too. Besides, God sees behind the masks…and He loves you anyway.
1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Don’t let those negatives from long ago creep into your mind and heart over and over again until you subcome to their influence for your life. Instead, remove the masks and be who God says you truely are…
You are chosen. You have been given mercy. You are holy. And you are royalty—a Princess of the King!
Mary Beth says
RE: Removing the Masks"
My 17 hear old daughter does not have the experience of having these kinds of friends, and it breaks my heart. We have moved to a part of the country where Christianity is not alive and well. She has slowly built a wall brick by brick around her heart. I am her mom, and I can't be her best friend. I love her dearly, any advice??
Trudy says
Hi Micca! I followed you over from your Proverbs 31 post today and I love this one too. How beautiful it is to be reminded that we are all daughters of the King, special and unique in Him!
I loved the P31 article too. I was so blind for so many years with just that head knowledge and you nailed it right on the head. It's all about the relationship and the obedience. I'm going to share your article with some close friends who I believe could greatly benefit from reading it.
God's blessings to you!
Donna says
Hi Micca! Great post today and so true! In order to become the woman God has created us to be, the masks need to go. Thank you for the reminder that "You are chosen. You have been given mercy. You are holy. And you are royalty—a Princess of the King!"
Blessings to you and your family!
Heather says
Amen! I really needed this! I haven't had good friendships for most of my adult life because of my mask I put up. Time to let go and let God!
Wendy Blight says
What an incredible devo, Micca!! I know it will touch so many hearts for I like you confessed with my mouth and believed with my heart but it was a long time before my life followed!! Thank you for sharing so authentically with us today.
Love you,
Wendy
Renee says
Micca, I also followed you over from your Proverbs 31 Post today. I am new to all of this, and todays Daily Devotional combined with your post here, have reached my heart. I cannot believe the timing either. I received in the mail today, my Bible and The Message. My sister referred me to Proverbs 31 and suggested I start here. I am still amazed at the timing of all of this.
Thank you so much and I look forward to "listening" to you regularly.
Renee
Renee says
Micca, I also followed you over from your Proverbs 31 post today. I love your blog post here also. The timing of seeing both of these today is amazing to me. My sister referred me to Proverbs 31 and I just received my Bible and The Message in the mail today. Yes, I am very new to this. But to see these today has touched me very much. Thank you.