Being in the children’s ministries of our church, I attended a “clown college.” The purpose was to find ways to introduce Jesus to the kids under our care. I loved it all. The greasepaint, wigs, and bright colored suits. My first clown name was “Lemon” and my lesson for the kids was with Jesus we could make lemonade out of lemons.

One of the things I noticed about being a clown was I could hide behind the costume and face paint. I even had a big smile painted on my white face and I found myself more confident and happier as I let my beautiful clown face shine out regardless of what was going on in my life.

With my clown career in mind, the article I read was interesting to me. I happened to come across a singer/song writer by the name of Smokey Robinson. Because of his reputation for writing music, he was asked to write lyrics to a piece of music given to him by a fellow singer. Smokey right away, decided the music had a few bars that made him think of a circus. As he listened to the music, his mind went to a story he heard of a man in Italy who was a famous clown. The story is told of the performer named Pagliacci. Being a clown helped him hide what was inside the heart of colorful clown with the continuous smile. After delighting his audience including many children, he would leave the arena and go to his room and cry because of the sadness in his lonely heart. He wanted the love of a woman. So, Smokey put these sentiments to the music of his friend. The hit was released in 1967, “The Tears of a Clown.” One of the lines of the song tells us much about the sadness of all people.

“There are sad things known to man but ain’t too much sadder than, the tears of a clown, when there’s no one around.”

At this point I must think about Jesus saying, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

Sometimes we don’t want to think of this verse because it reminds us that indeed there will be trouble. We try to act like it doesn’t bother us but behind the painted face our heart breaks. As sometimes I hide my true feelings of sadness lest someone doubts my walk with Jesus, my Savior lives inside my heart even when it is breaking. The Holy Spirit, the comforter, sees our tears as they make tracks in our face paint, he reminds us of the broad smile that tells us of joy that shines out, by realizing that he has overcome the world. And even more he loves us and cares about the sadness behind our happy faces, the hurt in our fancy eyes and the need for a Savior. If we trust Him who overcomes the world, we can wipe the paint from our faces that we used to hide the fear. Now we can glow with confidence that our Comforter has come with peace and love.

Dear Lord our Comforter. I live in the confidence that there is nothing you cannot do because you have overcome the world. There is no need to paint a smile on our face, because with you all things are possible, even a smile.

Jeanie Nihiser
Volunteer and Prayer Warrior with Answers2Prayer Ministries
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)