God Isn't A Band-Aid

By Hope Wilbanks

Have you realized that sometimes we try to use God as a coverup. We use religion as a coverup. For some reason, it's "taboo" for Christians to be sad, or to hurt, or to feel pain. Life isn't always cherry kool-aid and peanut butter cookies, though! Sometimes we're happy, and sometimes we're sad. It's all a part of the circle of life.

It is difficult to understand why some people want to hide their emotions. They hide behind the mask of a smile. But the eyes are the window to the soul, and I see much pain behind the masks that some people wear.

Why would you want to hide your emotions? Why would you want to hide the fact that you are human? Feelings do not make us weak. In fact, just the opposite. They show that we are every bit as human as everyone else.

There have been many instances when I masked my pain and heartache because I didn't want anyone to see it. I didn't want pity or sympathy. So I lied. I hid. But the pain didn't go away. It festered, like a troubled boil. It grew and spread until I became cold and unfeeling.

Breaking off that mask is even harder than putting it on. Once you start to hide behind it, you grow accustomed to it. It's easier to just pretend that everything is okay, rather than to actually feel. Pretending doesn't make the hurt go away.

What is even harder for me to understand is why we don't lend a hand to one another and help each other through our pain. God didn't promise us that we would never have pain. He did tell us, however, that there is a time for everything. We will not only experience the joy and happiness, but there will be times of sorrow as well.

God isn't a Band-aid. He is a healing balm. He is cool, refreshing waters. He doesn't want to cover up our hurt. He wants to make it better.

There is a time for everything. Sometimes we will laugh together. Sometimes we'll dance. Sometimes we'll plant seeds of forgiveness. Sometimes we'll weep.

Don't try to use God as a Band-aid to cover your troubles. I am your friend. You are my sister. If it is your time to cry, I will cry with you. When it is your time to speak, I will be silent. Whatever it is time for--let's experience it together.