More About Denial
"Be done with dishonesty ... deception ... and fraud. Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation."1
I once asked a group what they thought a Christian's number one sin or problem was. As quick as a flash one humorist replied, "Apathy, but who cares?" While he was joking, he may have been correct, but my belief is that another of our biggest problems is the sin of denial!
No matter what our problem is, as long as we keep our head in the sand and don't admit there's a problem, or refuse to face reality, there is no resolution. As one ostrich said to the other, both with their heads in the sand, "Is it safe to come out yet?"
One of my greatest strengths is to admit my failures and weaknesses. That takes honesty and courage, but it doesn't take courage to deny them. Denial is more a sign of fear and weakness.
Without access to the truth there is no healing, there is no overcoming our difficulties and problems, and there is no freedom. We put ourselves outside of God's "boundaries" to help us.
Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free."2 So as long as there is any area of my life where I haven't found freedom, then, to that degree, there is some truth about myself that I am not seeing or facing or am in denial about. Denial is deadly. It prevents us becoming all that God wants us to be. It is also the root cause of endless physical sicknesses, relational conflicts, spiritual dryness, and emotional problems including anxiety, worry, false guilt, hostility, depression and so on.
Furthermore, as today's Scripture points out, getting real is a part of growing up into the fullness of our salvation and/or Christian maturity.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be totally open and honest with myself, with you, and with at least one safe and trusted friend to whom I can confess all my fears, failures, sins and weaknesses without any fear of being judged, criticized or put down. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. 1 Peter 2:1-2 (TLB)(NLT).
2. John 8:32.
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