Fake Strength

We’ve all had those days: the ones where nothing seems to go your way and nothing seems to be falling into place; the ones which cause you to wonder why you’re going through every day motions without feeling a purpose. 

And we’ve all had those nights. You know, the ones that usually follow those days: the nights when you wait for everyone in your house to fall asleep so that you can close the door to your bedroom and cry in your room alone; crawl under your blankets trying to grasp why you continue to feel so empty and weak at the end of the day.

Then, there are those mornings that follow those nights. The ones where you get out of bed, the tear stains gone, and walk out your bedroom door saying “Good morning!” with a smile on your face, so that no one could guess what you just went through the previous night. But you continue that day with a fake smile and attempt to look like your life is going just the way you want it to go.

But see, the thing is, if you look at what the world wants you to do, you’re living correctly. The world and people around you tell you that no matter what you’re going through, you should smack a smile on your face and stay strong. Push through and don’t let those people bother you. Don’t let that girl break your happiness. Don’t cry because he hurt you- you’re better than that. Keep smiling. You’re a strong individual and your happiness is the most important thing.

Then why is it, that when we listen to those voices around us- when we attempt to stay strong and when we fake our smiles- we continue to find ourselves at the end of the day in bed, feeling weaker and sadder than we did that morning?

I don’t know about you, but I think this says something. Something’s not right.

And this is it: their way doesn’t work.

We weren’t made to live our lives faking our emotions. We weren’t made to spend our nights crying in bed. We aren’t supposed to feel throttled with the high expectation of staying strong.

Life has a meaning so much deeper, much freer, than what the world gives us.

Aren’t you tired of not being yourself and not allowing yourself to feel the emotions that you want, and actually need, to feel? You should be tired. Because that’s not the way we should be living.

I think many times we forget how much God loves honesty and brokenness. We forget that when we have a bad day, God doesn’t expect a smile on our face.

God wants to help you. And He will, I promise. I know from experience.

Receiving help will require you to be honest and vulnerable, but it’ll be worth it. And I’m not gonna lie to you and say it’s easy. Actually, it’s difficult and quite terrifying.

However, there is hope.

God loves to slip off our fake smiles, masks, and routines, and see us for who we truly are.

He loves to cover us with peace.

He loves to wipe our tears away and say, “I know life stinks right now.”

He loves to grant us strength when we are weak.

God doesn’t ask us to surrender to Him and go to Him weak, just so He can torture and tease us. He asks us to give up ourselves to help us and give us real strength and peace, the kind that actually makes us feel strong and courageous at the end of the day, the kind that gets us through life with a content, joyful attitude. And through this strength and peace, we discover true freedom and grace.

And with freedom and grace, given to us by an unfailing and compassionate God, we have renewable strength to push through each day.

So my question for you is this: are you willing to surrender your emotionally tiring life?

This is sometimes a question I need to ask myself daily, because masks aren’t strength. Fake smiles aren’t rejuvenating.

I challenge you to find strength, comfort, and true joy in living a life with the peace God so graciously gives. Be honest with yourself, each other, and God, with what may be holding you back from complete surrender.

He’s waiting with open arms, not just to catch the pieces that fall out of your hands, but to catch YOU, a broken and messy individual.

Turn to the Savior and you will experience rest like you never have before, strength like you couldn’t imagine.

The world’s way doesn’t work, but God’s way does.

And I think we all could use a lifetime break from fake smiles and fake strength, in exchange for true strength, true peace, true purpose, and a genuine smile.