Hiding Place: An 8-Day Devotional By Tori KellySýnishorn

SUNDAY 

I grew up in church, I was homeschooled, I made an album called “Unbreakable Smile,” I have been successful, and I’ve learned the art of editing the perfect instagram picture. What’s my point? I think people can get the perception that I have it all together. 

In fact, the world of filtered social media makes it easy for lives to look perfect and think, “meanwhile I’m just a broken mess.” Believe it or not, I can fall prey to this evil cycle of comparison at any moment. Even the church is far from immune to this deadly cycle. Perhaps the most filtered time of the week is Sunday morning where everyone puts on their “Sunday best,” greets one another with a big smile and a “hallelujah,” and promises to pray for all their friends the rest of the week. I’ll admit that I, too, have presented the best version of “the good girl” during Sunday service. 

Behind closed doors, I know I am far, far from perfect. My life may appear to be a certain way, but just like everybody else, I desperately need God’s grace every moment. Being very familiar with the “sin that is always before me” (Psalm 51:3), I know it’s silly to put a mask on in front of anyone, especially God. To be a Christian means to be broken and needy before God. In His presence no one can stand proud, and anything good in me is a result of his grace. 

For this reason, “don’t let Sunday fool ya!” You and I don’t deal with God based on good days and bad days hoping that our good ones win out in the end. Our God came only for the sick and the broken, and “a broken and contrite heart he will never despise” (Psalm 51:17). So let’s take off our filters and masks with God and with each other, and recognize “by grace you have been saved through faith. This is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Oh how we need his grace every. single. day.