Actresses on a Stage

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the

full assurance that faith brings…

Hebrews 10:22

We sang “Let It Go” with Anna and Elsa. We sat spellbound as we watched Beauty and the Beast dance across the stage. And we giggled and danced with Mickey at Disney Junior Live.

Actors and actresses performed on stages, making us believe (at least for the moment) they were who they proposed to be. My five-year-old grand daughter wholeheartedly believed each one was real. At times, I found myself caught up in the “pretend.”

I have never aspired to be an actress. When my elementary school performed a play, I was to be the last 1^st grader to leave the stage. The music teacher asked me to wave and say, “Goodbye!” One word. Nothing more. I was so terrified that I traded places with the boy next to me so that he could speak instead of me.

I may not enjoy acting on a stage, but I have played the role of actress many times. I have played the role of devoted daughter, when inside I resented making frequent trips to care for my mother. I have accepted the praise from someone that I was a “prayer warrior,” knowing full well that I was in a slump in my prayer life. And the list goes on.

What about you? Are you playing a role, trying to convince others that you are someone other than who you really are? I’m not proposing that we expose every truth about ourselves. But I am suggesting that being a little more “real” around others might open up opportunities for ministry. As you and I share our struggles, others will be more prone to share their struggles. We can then encourage each other toward Christlikeness.

Lord, thank You for inspiring the apostle Paul to share his struggles in Romans 7. How encouraging those words have been to many who struggle. Help us be sincere in our journey with You and use us to encourage one another.

Jan Burkhart