makeupMost of us wear at least a bit of makeup, trying to hide wrinkles or even out skin tone. Then on top of that, we use a little concealer to hide those pesky dark rings under our eyes or a zit that surprised us during the night.

It’s part of being a woman and feeling dressed for the day.

But how much inner concealer do we use? Are we trying to hide some of the flaws we don’t want people to see? Are we hoping to mask over a bit of our genuine selves because we don’t like what we’ve become?

Using an inner concealer is also part of being a woman as most of us struggle to be vulnerable.

And sometimes we’ve been shamed so much for expressing our true selves – we’re afraid of being honest.

But what happens to a zit when we continue to cover it with concealer? It festers and grows underneath. Sometimes it can become infected or cause a scar.

And if we try to force it and expel the nastiness, it can last for weeks. Then we need more and more concealer to hide the mess.

The best way to deal with blemishes is to gently cleanse them and use some type of antiseptic. Sometimes we need to contact an expert – a dermatologist or our primary care doctor.

For the deeper issues of our souls, those places of shame and hurt – we also need a cleansing. Jesus can do that for us.

“If we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing” (1 John 1:9 TMB).

Any time we feel burdened by what has happened to us or by any perceived flaws, we can pour the antiseptic of God’s word over our pain.

Sometimes, we may need to consult an expert. GateWay of Hope has licensed, professional counselors and a certified life coach to help give direction.

But the more we try to hide our struggles, the more we try to self-medicate or conceal the problem – the deeper it carves a scar into our souls.

Stop trying to conceal the issues. Be genuine. Be honest and reach out for help.

We’re here for you.

©2015 GateWay of Hope