The water and the masks we wear

I had one of those dreams last night that feels more like a story God is whispering into your soul.

I was at a water park with my family, splashing, laughing, and going on rides. At one point, I lost something ...my sleep mask... in the middle of a water slide. At first I thought about just letting it go, but then I realized it mattered to me. So I went back, dove into the waters, and reached out for it.

As I grabbed mine, I noticed something else: I wasn’t the only one. All around me were other masks, left behind by different people. Suddenly, it struck me ...we all have masks. We all have ways of coping, ways of covering up, ways of protecting ourselves when life feels too heavy or too bright.

But here’s the part that stayed with me: I didn’t just find my mask. I found it in the water. In the place of cleansing, renewal, and flow. There was even a hidden shower and locker room tucked away inside the water ride...a private space for refreshing, for resetting, for starting again.

It felt like God reminding me:

•You’re not alone in needing rest.

•You’re not weak for having coping tools.

•You don’t have to be ashamed of what you need to protect yourself. Just don’t forget the water is always there ... cleansing, carrying, and renewing you.

Life has left me with plenty of masks. Pain, illness, loss, heartbreak... they’ve all made me reach for something to shield my eyes for a while. But this dream reminded me that when the mask slips, I can always return to the water. To God’s Spirit. To that place where I can wash off the exhaustion and pick up what truly belongs to me.

Because in the end, I don’t just want to wear masks. I want to be restored.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.” Isaiah 43:2

Kristen, Unfiltered Xo 💋