In this same way we all have our main stage and our backstage. Everything that we don’t mind others seeing takes place on the main stage. Sometimes we make mistakes on that stage, as an actor may mess up a line or take a wrong step, but it’s all visible to anyone watching, and we just continue on. There are times when what happens on that main stage is truly all just an act. We act the way we think we should, and not how we are. And our act may change depending on the audience watching us at the time. Other times we are completely genuine and act like ourselves no matter who is watching. Instead of following a specific script we adlib, and what happens, happens. And when we’re being genuine we know that we can rely on God as our stage manager. If we look to Him, rely on Him, He will get us through each “performance.”
God is our stage manager. A stage manager has full access to both the front stage and the back stage. According to the dictionary,* to stage-manage means, “to supervise from behind the scenes.” He sees everything and makes sure that it all goes well. When we put our trust in him the performance will go well. When a mistake does occurs it is not him who is to blame, but he will help correct it. If we put our trust in God, our life will go well, for we are following what He wants for us, and He too, though blameless, will help correct our faults. God has access to the part of our lives that others see, but He also has access to the parts we don’t show to the masses.
In a production stage hands are also on the set helping out. In life these are the people we put our trust in, those whom we feel we can tell our problems to and ask for prayers from. These are the people who are allowed to see us at our worst. But, they still don’t have full-access. Only God has that. Only He holds the key to the closet hiding in the back; the closet where our deepest fears are locked up tight. This is the same closet that holds those dreams we’re not brave enough to share with others, the secret joys we get from different aspects of our lives, and the shameful sins we may be trying to hide. No matter how hard we try to lock everyone out of that closet, we cannot lock Him out. He sees everything. He knows us. God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” (Jer 1:5) There is nothing we can hide from Him.
If you think about it this “full-access pass” that God has is a good thing. We know that there is someone out there who we can talk to about everything that is in that closet; someone who will never walk away from us. When we look to Him we no longer have to feel alone in our deepest thoughts. And, despite what’s locked away, He does not want to harm us. He only wants what’s good for us. Even with the most shameful of sins, if we look to Him and ask for His forgiveness in it, He will take it away. It becomes more like a cobweb that needs to be cleaned out, and God does the cleaning. Again in Jeremiah God says, “For I know the plans I have you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:11-13) In time, with His help, we can take some of the things, good and bad, that we’ve locked away and share it at least with our “stage hands.”
Give to God all your joys, your hurts, fears and shames. Remember that He sees them no matter how deeply we may hide them, and when we acknowledge this He will share in our joys, heal our hurts, give us courage in the face of our fears, and forgive our shames. He is the ultimate stage manager and is there to help us in everything.
May we all remember that He is with us always and sees into the depths of our hearts. And may we rely on Him in every aspect of our lives.