When I first heard that my church had a Celebrate Recovery ministry, I immediately came to two conclusions:

• It was a program for “Those People.”
• Even if I did need the help, nothing/no one could fix me. I was beyond all hope.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Tomorrow I’ll write about the second point, but today let’s look at the first.

Why is there such a stigma attached to the word “recovery?” I used to think that was a shameful thing, to be in recovery. That only a certain type would find themselves there. Those People, who couldn’t find a way to live without the very things that were destroying them.

But the Bible says that we are all one of Those People. No matter how finely crafted our mask of respectability, you and I cannot measure up. The Word says that we were born into a fallen world, that all of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and that we have been tempted by every kind of evil (James 1:13-15) and that in this world, we will have trouble (John 16:33*). So we all have probably suffered through circumstances…anything that left us questioning God or our position in Him.

You, and I, and just about everyone we know are one of Those People. So let’s just bury that right now. Shall we? Let’s look at ourselves by a new standard. Our masks of respectability do nothing but block our view of ourselves and of our God, not His of us. He sees us exactly where we really live. He knows the hurts, the habits and the hangups that we operate under and through and He wants us to give them up to Him.

Because He has a plan for us. What a beautiful promise! I may not know anything about what that plan is right now. I may not be able to comprehend where that plan will lead me. But I do trust the Planner. So off with the masks!

My favorite mask used to be the Perfect Christian mask–I would pull it out whenever we were within a hundred yards of any church door. And I distinctly remember having to dig it out for funerals and crisis situations. It was a good cover for the anxiety, depression and problem drinking. Or so I thought. Turns out, most of the people I was trying to impress with my PC mask were discerning enough to see right through it. So not only did God have my number, but most of the people I cared about did too.

What mask are you ready to throw away? Or, if you are not ready to throw it out, why do you believe you need to hang onto it?

*I love the second part of that verse where Jesus says “…but take heart! I have overcome the world.” Another promise to tuck into your everyday thoughts, yes? YES!