If we're honest...

I was driving home from the gym, my four year old in the back seat singing along with the radio. I can’t for the life of me remember what was playing. But that’s when I heard it. The little voice. Not audibly, no. But it was clear as day. And not the soft, gentle One that beckons me to be better. It was sly and smooth, thick with deceit. “They will eventually find you out.” I played dumb at first, thinking to myself, “Find me out? What are you talking about?” There it was again, menacing and taunting. “You want all of these things to make you good but really, you’re not. You do the right things. Say the right words. But you are just hiding. Hide deeper because things are getting real. They will find you out.” It was like someone punched me in the stomach. I wasn’t hiding, was I? I really do mean what I say, don’t I? I do want more of Jesus. I want Him to change every fiber of my being so I look like Him. I want my entire world based on the love of Christ so everyone that I encounter can know that love too. I, immediately, rebuked the all too familiar voice. It was shame trying to seep his way back in. It was fear attempting to chain me down to memories I had long been delivered from.

It is not easy being honest. In fact, it is downright terrifying. And this world will repeatedly tell you that you aren’t good enough, perfect enough. And if you can’t be that, then hide. Create a shell around your heart. Don’t express how you really feel. Never speak your truth. Fitting in feels better than being condemned. 

But I know of a group of people who defies all of this. They are true Jesus followers. They mean what they say. They welcome. Maybe, you are in need of a table. Somewhere to unload all of your dirty laundry. We don’t just say grace here, we give it too. Maybe you need some good ol’ fashioned truth serum. Something to shed light on the lies. Ours is in the shape of a book, never forgotten or destroyed. Maybe, you just need someone to listen. To nod. A hand on the shoulder when tears trickle down your cheek. It can’t be easy feeling this alone. We get it because we have all felt the same. Maybe you need a good meal and an even better laugh. Something to fill you up and to make you smile. We’ve got that covered. All you have to do is come. Show up. Pull up a chair. We all put something in. An arrogant personality. A one too many drinks every night. A porn dilemma. A wish for someone else. A longing for another life entirely. A dark hole we can’t seem to climb out of. We unload it by speaking our honesty. Because we know that the quickest way to kill the darkness is to turn on the light. That is what we do. And if there is a day when you are too weak to speak it yourself… well, we can do it for you.

A table.

Open hearts.

Empty hands.

Full stomachs.

Freedom. 

If We're Honest -Francesca Battistelli

Truth is harder than a lie
The dark seems safer than the light
And everyone has a heart that loves to hide
I'm a mess and so are you
We've built walls nobody can get through
Yeah, it may be hard, but the best thing we could ever do, ever do

Bring your brokenness, and I'll bring mine
'Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy's waiting on the other side
If we're honest
If we're honest

Don't pretend to be something that you're not
Living life afraid of getting caught
There is freedom found when we lay
our secrets down at the cross, at the cross

Bring your brokenness, and I'll bring mine
'Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy's waiting on the other side
If we're honest
If we're honest

It would change our lives
It would set us free
It's what we need to be

Bring your brokenness, and I'll bring mine
'Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy's waiting on the other side
If we're honest