Who are you? Most of the time there’s not a reason to give this any thought. The closest to having a prepared answer is for a job interview when they ask you, “So tell me about yourself?” This is when you give them a rundown of a possibly rehearsed description of your professional history and how it may line up with whatever the interviewer is looking for. But the work you’ve done or now do doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with who you are. You were just being professional cause it’s the role we all must play and because people are watching. What about when nobody’s watching?

WHEN IT’S A PRESENTATION & EVERYBODY IS WATCHING
It’s the same thing when you go out on a date. If you’d like to continue seeing that person, you’d better be on your very best behavior and make sure you’re spending some extra time paying attention, listening, engaging, and complimenting. When your family’s in town and you’re entertaining, you clean your home spotless. You stock up extra groceries and make sure everybody looks presentable and things are looking in place to some degree. Who is this really for? I think it’s so the other person or people feel comfortable with us right? And maybe it’s also so we feel more comfortable with ourselves too. We want them to feel a liking for us and to feel that we do have acceptable standards.

TIME WITH PEOPLE REVEALS YOU
Here’s the difference. The presentation is temporary. When you’re with someone long enough, you begin to see some things…lol. Things that could only surface with time, tension, and truth. Marriage will show you each other’s true colors for sure. If you live with family or family lives with you, versus just a weekend visit, you may witness the clashing of personalities and wish there was more space. When you’ve worked long hours at your job, the pressure for remaining kosher and corporately correct has transitioned to lending them a piece of your mind instead. Unfortunately, the interview “you” is over.

AWAY FROM THE NOISE………..
Now let’s take it a step even further. The type of further when you’ve said your goodbyes and head home in the car with you and your own thoughts….. The “you” that returns to a quiet home, by yourself, if that’s you. The “you” that looks in the mirror to see what you see or the you that stands in the shower with a moment’s time to reflect on life. The “you with you”, that sets your phone on the charger and sits on your bed gathering final thoughts before you turn off the lights. Who is that person? In those moments there is no front because that “you” is the true “you” when nobody is watching. And when nobody’s watching, God is always awake and near to you, available to meet with you in those moments. 

Psalm 121:5 NIV– The Lord watches over you. The Lord is your shade at your right hand;

HERE’S WHO KNOWS YOU
God knows that person….better than you. God sees that person and wonders if you do. It’s an honest place where God can see you organically and meet you in your true self. When nobody’s watching, He is. In those moments and in those places is where God can really minister to your heart where then, there is no pretending. The mask is completely off and you can no longer hide from who you truly are.

Jeremiah 1:5-Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
(God not only knew Jeremiah, He knows us as well)

THE RIGHT POSITIONING
This is a foundational place to revisit your heart, your truths, and your flaws. Here are the transparent places where you have positioned yourself to HEAR….. And if you listen, you will notice that there are answers available and waiting for you, and for that deeper sense of yourself.

SPENDING TIME WITH YOU (YOU WITH YOU)
I grew up in a small family with one sibling as the only girl. So, I spent a lot of time alone. I didn’t mind it cause I was shy and quiet anyway. When you’re alone you spend more time thinking, observing, and understanding who you are and you discover how to enjoy moments by yourself. I went on bike rides, drew portraits as a little artist, listened to music, and enjoyed the surrounding atmosphere of nature and the outdoors. I also found it easy when nobody was watching, to have self-motivating talks with myself. Why not? I was free to understand self-expression. So I would give myself the time and attention to talk myself through life’s directions to encourage, and motivate my way.

TRUTH: I WAS NEVER ALONE WHEN NOBODY WAS WATCHING
There’s a pivotal moment when you realize that your self-talks aren’t self-talks anyway because they’re already being heard. My talks as a kid went from self-talks to God-talks. And when nobody was watching, those talks with God showed me more about myself and the world around me.

You may not like or want people to see the real you when nobody’s watching. But it is you! So why not understand yourself better when you find out who the man or woman in the mirror is when nobody but God is watching? That’s where you start. And that’s where you get to know yourself and be honest and open before God.

ALLOW HIM
Allow God to show you how He feels about you. Let God identify His love for you and the “better” purpose in which He intended to create you. Let God show you that you’re His and How you may feel about yourself is not full or complete without understanding His value for you. It’s an honest opportunity, but you must first see that He’s the one that’s watching you when nobody’s watching. So the next time you are alone, see the quiet space as the occupied company of the true and living God.

Psalm 145:18 NIV- The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.