Psalm 4:6
“Many people say, ‘Who will show us better times?’ Let your face smile on us, LORD.”
Psalm 89:15
“How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance.”
“Are you Americans?” This question came from a stranger, an older Scottish gentleman who observed our small group walking down a street in Edinburgh, Scotland. Our team from Virginia was on a mission trip in 1986, and we were given a free day to tour the city. We chuckled at his question, and our leader replied, “Yes, we are; how did you know?” His answer was very enlightening. “Because you are all smiling; Americans always smile.” I hadn’t really given it much thought prior to his comment but with many more years of travel to the UK under my belt since then, I have found it to be so true. We Americans do smile a lot! Especially those of us who are Christians. My face—my countenance—speaks volumes about the Hope that is within me.
During the years we dealt with the pandemic, I thought a lot about the impact wearing masks had on us as individuals and what might have been happening behind those masks. A young woman shared a story about an experience she had while picking up a prescription at a pharmacy. “The pharmacist asked for my last name. When I said, ‘Hall’ she replied, ‘Oh! I didn’t recognize you with your mask on!’ Somehow I felt equally comforted and also heartbroken…I had no idea that she usually recognized me…but it was also striking that by simply covering my smile, I was no longer recognizable.”
Besides covering unique facial features, masks also hide one’s countenance, keeping others from seeing if one is smiling or frowning, mad or happy, hurting or depressed. Our countenance, which says so much about us, is a billboard that advertises what is going on in our heart. What is happening on the outside is rooted on the inside. If our heart is heavy with enormous burdens, it is reflected on our countenance by our facial expression, body language and tone of voice.
Worry can harden a person’s face, just as much as gross sin can. Even if we are not experiencing worry, turmoil, or unconfessed sin, we must be careful that our expression, even behind a mask, isn’t sending the wrong message to the world. We want to show our “merry heart” which is the gladness and joy we have in our spirit. In challenging times, we may find it hard to be glad in all that is happening, but we can rejoice in the One who is in control of it.
How grateful I am that God does not hide His countenance from us. Our scriptures today speak of the Lord’s favor and grace when He smiles on us. To hide His face or countenance indicates His displeasure and the rebuke of His countenance indicates His anger. Is that what lies behind our masks? Displeasure? Anger? Unconfessed sin? The Lord is looking to see His reflection—a godly countenance—in our lives, masks or no masks.
In Psalm 42:11, King David boldly declared, “I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Take a few moments to rejoice and be glad for who God is and what He has done for you. Not only will it brighten your day, it will brighten your countenance. I hope we will make a point of looking closely at the faces of those we encounter who may not wear a cloth mask but still hide behind one. Smile! It just might be the most powerful and encouraging gesture you can offer to those you hold dear, and even to the world.
Dear Father, we praise You that You are in control of all that is happening in our world today. How thankful we are that You never wear a mask or hide yourself from us even when we go our own way and try to hide from you. Convict us, Lord, where we have strayed and forgive us. Fill us with your grace to meet the challenges and give us discerning eyes to recognize behind the masks any signs of hurt or discouragement in people. May we see with Your eyes and may we be a reflection of Your love to others. In Your name we pray. Amen.
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