Thursday, November 14, 2024

We all have skeletons in the closet—things we are not proud of and wish we could change about our past. These secrets are often a source of shame and fear. We are afraid that if those we love find out about these secrets, they will reject us. We fear our sins are unforgivable and keep them hidden, praying they will never come to light.

However, as Dan discovered in The Family Plan, secrets have a way of coming out, usually at the most inopportune time. When secrets do come out, those around us are more hurt at being kept in the dark than they would have been if we had been honest in the first place. In hiding our secrets, we are saying those we love don’t love us enough to forgive our past mistakes.

John addresses the true nature of love through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus’ love is the antidote to fear.

1 John 4:18-19
¹⁸ Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. ¹⁹ We love each other because he loved us first.

Revealing our pasts to those we love makes us vulnerable to rejection and pain. It feels easier and safer for some things to remain hidden, but this mentality reveals our true beliefs about our relationships. It shows that we do not trust their love enough to let them see who we are.

Secrets trap us and make us slaves to them. When we bring them to the light, we are freed from the power they hold over us. We allow the grace of Jesus to cleanse them and show those we love that we trust them enough to be vulnerable. It might strain a relationship initially, but with time, those who know the real love of Jesus will offer forgiveness and acceptance.

When we are secure in Jesus’ love, we can be honest with those around us. We know that his work on the cross accomplished the redemption we all need and desire. Honesty may not always produce the result we desire, but those who truly love us will also rest in the work Jesus did and extend grace even when it is difficult.

Questions:
What secrets are you hiding from those around you? What does that show about your belief in the work Christ did on the cross? What does that say about your belief in the grace of those you love?

Next Steps:
Listen to “You Make Everything Beautiful” by Rebecca St. James and For King and Country about allowing Jesus to make your messy situations beautiful.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you that I don’t have to hide my shame from you. Thank you for what you have done to free me from the bondage of sin. Give me the courage to confess my sins and struggles to those who love me. Give me the wisdom to know who to trust with my deepest hurts. Thank you for the promise of peace. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

This post was written by Julie Mabus, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.