Forgiving and finding peace in the darkest of times
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Many of us go through life wearing an invisible mask. We hide our true feelings, desires, and dreams because of insecurity. We hide our fears and hurts. We hide addictions and shameful experiences we have gone through because we fear what others will think about us.
Diane Spicer, author of Unmasked: A Remarkable True Story of Transformation and Redemption, knows what it feels like to live behind a mask and suffer the consequences. She also knows what it is like to go through the unmasking process and find true redemption through faith.
We sat down with Diane to discuss her remarkable transformation from a victim of molestation and drug addiction to a life of freedom and forgiveness.
Living a Masked Life
Diane’s family and friends thought she had it all – a high-profile corporate career, traveling the world, and living a life of the rich and famous. Diane seemingly did have it all on the outside, but she felt like she was dying on the inside. Her family and friends didn’t know that she was hiding the pain of 7 years of molestation and an ever-growing addiction to drugs and alcohol. Underneath her smile was a life spiraling out of control.
A Miraculous Moment
It wasn’t until her son was born when Diane’s life started to change. At 8-weeks old, Diane’s son contracted double pneumonia and whooping cough, leaving him in the hospital for two months. Not being able to get the relief she needed from the drugs she wanted and refusing to leave the hospital and her son, she cried out to God and prayed, “If you are real, take my life and take Alex’s.” As she wept on the hospital room floor, a blanket of peace came over her, and she fell asleep, knowing that everything would be OK. When Diane woke up, nurses and doctors flooded into the hospital room. A nurse who was holding her son yelled out, “Praise the Lord! Jesus healed your son! Praise the Lord! Jesus healed your son!” It was the miracle that Diane needed to catapult her transformation. “God saw me amid my pain and willingly came into my life to change it,” said Diane.
The Unraveling of the Mask
The miraculous healing and experience of peace left Diane with many questions. God was stirring in her heart a hunger to seek Him more and led her to a bookstore. When arriving at the bookstore Diane was guided by a woman who led her to the Bible and sat down with her to read through scriptures. The words jumped off the page, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9 (NIV) What the woman in the bookstore didn’t know is that Diane had been searching for peace. “What God was telling me is that if you just put into practice what is in this book, I will bring you peace,” said Diane. “It brought me to tears sitting in front of a total stranger. A strong career woman who had it all together just broke right in front of her.”
From Mask to Vulnerable
Each person’s journey of unmasking is very different. According to Diane, the first step in unmasking is to get real with God. He sees and knows everything, but you need to share in moments of quiet with Him, finding out who you are in Christ before you can start unmasking yourself. The journey of unmasking is challenging and you need to face it head-on and do it afraid. Recycle the pain rather than letting it destroy you. If you don’t know how to do that seek it out and ask God to help you bring people who can help you. Find a group of strong believers and sit with them in a safe place and tell them your story. It takes time to learn how to process and practice but it gets easier with time.
Next Step, Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a step not to miss in your unmasking. For Diane, forgiveness cut deep. How do you pray for your enemies? How do you forgive someone who abused you for seven years? How do you give without receiving? How do you humble yourself and become like Jesus? When encouraged to forgive her oppressor, Diane didn’t think she had it in her to do it. After over a year-long journey seeking godly council (and trying to find a loophole in the Bible), she was ready to forgive. “I had a list of things I wanted to tell him. Instead, nothing came out. I ended up preaching the gospel to him and letting him know that his sins could be forgiven.” Little did Diane know that action would bring her to ministering in maximum security prisons and telling the same message to prisoners in Australia. Since then, in her experience working with prisoners, 99% of the stories she has heard come from a place of trauma or severe lack as human beings. “There’s no excuse for the crimes they commit, but it does help explain their actions. Even prisoners wear masks,” says Diane.
The Secret of Being Content
As Diane has found, you can have an abundant life and have peace in the storm. Whether traveling the world, living the life of the rich and famous, or going on welfare, you can find peace in Jesus Christ. God looks at our hearts. If we are human, we have all faced hardship of all kinds and done stupid things. God doesn’t create junk. Life is painful and challenging, but there is a diamond among the coal. The diamond is within each of us.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12 (NIV)
More from this episode
As Diane has learned, you don’t have to be an expert to share your story and share in the pain with each other. We can learn from each other. Jesus is alive and longing to live inside of us and through us. Be the one person to reach out to others and do whatever you can to give them the help they need. It takes a lot to be the whole person that God created you to be when you are in the depths of despair. Be bold and speak the truth in love to those that need it around you.
Live an authentic, significant life.
Connect with Diane
It took Diane 60 years to live a life unmasked, and she would love to share her story with you. You can purchase Diane’s book and learn more about her programs on her website or connect with her on Instagram and Facebook!
Looking to build a community of Christian women? Head over to Faith & Gather for connection and more stories to become faith-inspired.