THE PRETENDER

When a waitress in Ohio asked to see a customer's driver's license, she was shocked when she saw the photo on the ID. It was her own picture! The waitress had lost her driver's license a month earlier, and this young woman was using it so she'd have "proof" she was old enough to drink alcohol. The police were called, and the customer was arrested for identity theft. Trying to gain what she wanted, she pretended to be someone she wasn't.

I know what it’s like to pretend to be someone I’m not.  It’s no fun.  It’s lonely for one thing.  And it’s scary.  When my first child was born I didn’t bond with her.  In fact, I suspected she was going to take my husband’s affections away from me.  At one point I was going to kill her, but God protected both of us.  God brought me through a difficult case of postpartum psychosis without doing harm to myself or my baby.  But I was alone through all this because how do you tell someone that you want to kill your baby?  Well, you can tell me because I’ve decided to make my life an open book.  I don’t want to pretend anymore!    

Pretending goes on an awful lot in our churches today.  Many people put on a false front. They use the right “Christian” words, attend church almost every Sunday, and even pray before meals. They pretend they “have it all together” in order to gain the approval of others.  Inside they’re struggling with brokenness, guilt, doubt, or an addiction or other persistent sin.  

God placed us in a body of believers to support one another. What would happen if you admitted you aren’t perfect?  Have you considered seeking the counsel of a godly brother or sister in Christ who has earned your trust?  Take a chance!  Stop pretending!  Don’t hide your sin and cover up, pretending there is nothing wrong.  Instead, confess it and repent.  Be what God intends you to be ~ don’t pretend to be what you’re not.  God will bless your life in ways beyond anything you can imagine.

My two beautiful girls (back in the 80's) that God blessed me with!