We smile, inside we are broken. Why do we hide our struggles?
How long can you hide what’s hurting you the most?
When Anna came home from university, everything seemed fine on the surface. She smiled, went to church, and did everything her family expected her to do. But inside, a storm was brewing.
Her dreams of landing the perfect job after graduation had crumbled, and despite holding a degree in her hands, she felt stuck. The job opportunities she thought would come her way were nowhere to be found.
Her return home was met with polite questions from relatives and friends: “So, what’s next? Where are you working now? What next are you going to do with your life?” The weight of their expectations and her own disappointment felt suffocating.
Anna had always been a go-getter, someone who made things happen. But now, no matter how hard she tried, doors remained closed. Her confidence began to slip away as she plastered on a smile to mask the pain she felt deep inside.
Hiding the Struggle
Anna’s family, being deeply rooted in their Christian faith, ran both a church and a school that her older sibling helped manage. She had always assumed that, if nothing else, she’d be part of that leading and shaping the family business. But that option wasn’t even on the table. Her parents had already delegated those responsibilities to someone else, and no one asked her if she wanted a role.
While her family looked to God for guidance in every situation, Anna felt overlooked, both by them and, at times, by God Himself. She wanted to scream, “Why isn’t this working out for me? What did I do wrong?” But instead, she nodded politely and continued to hide her growing frustration. She masked the pain of feeling invisible, while everyone around her assumed she was fine.
Facing Internal Conflict
As days turned into weeks, Anna’s internal struggle grew. She found herself questioning not just her future, but her faith. How could God let this happen? She had always been a firm believer, active in her church, and committed to following God’s will.
Yet here she was, unable to find her way forward. She was trapped in a season of uncertainty, and the mask she wore began to feel heavier with each passing day.
Her frustration wasn’t just with her career prospects, it was with her family too. The very people she thought would be her support system were unknowingly pushing her deeper into her own self-doubt.
Every day felt like a reminder of her failure, and it hurt even more because no one seemed to notice how much she was struggling.
Anna felt the need to be strong, to maintain an appearance of having it all together. Admitting that she was struggling meant admitting failure, and that was something she wasn’t prepared to face.
So, she buried her pain, distracting herself with small tasks, busywork, and even certain church activities. Yet, no matter how much she kept herself occupied, the feeling of emptiness gnawed at her soul.
A Silent Prayer
It wasn’t until one quiet evening, after yet another day of pretending everything was okay, that Anna found herself alone, tears streaming down her face. She had reached her breaking point. In that moment, she knelt beside her bed and poured out her heart to God. For the first time, she let down her guard, acknowledging the pain she had been hiding for so long.
She prayed for clarity, for peace, and for God to show her that she wasn’t forgotten. In that moment of vulnerability, Anna felt a sense of release, as though her burdens were being lifted, if only a little.
She didn’t have all the answers yet, but she realized she didn’t have to pretend anymore not with God. She could be real, raw, and open about her pain because He already knew.
Conclusion
Unmasking and Surrendering
Anna’s story of masking the pain is one that many young adults can relate to. On the outside, everything looks fine, but on the inside, there’s a battle raging. It’s easier to hide behind a smile than to confront the feelings of failure, disappointment, and doubt. Yet, as Anna discovered, the only way to truly heal is by unmasking that pain and surrendering it to God I hope this gives you the courage to do the same.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:17-18
So take this chance to sincerely cry out to God for help, because indeed God hears our cries and is near to us in our moments of pain.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
~ 1 Peter 5:7
This is a reminder that just like Anna in her brokenness, you don’t have to carry our burdens alone.
Here again, it gets better;
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”~
Matthew 11:28-30
Anna learned that she didn’t have to pretend everything was fine. She could find rest and relief by bringing her burdens to God.
In summary, I really urge you now to take a conscious decision to actually lay down your burdens it’s quite heavy for you to carry them all by yourself. When you do, I bet that you’ll feel much lighter and better.
