Stop Hiding

I gave a word in church today. I didn't do it because I wanted to. For all my love of public speaking (and I do mean LOVE - I'm more comfortable speaking in front of 100 people than having a conversation with 3-4), the second it comes to speaking something the Lord has put on my heart, I feel so nervous. What if I get it wrong? What if I don't say it exactly the way I'm supposed to? What if my imperfect self distorts His perfect Word?

But there's a physical need that goes along with that word on my heart. My chest literally feels full, like my heart is going to leap out of my mouth. When I was a kid, I thought the soul was a glowing gold key inside of everyone's chest. When there's a word on my heart, it doesn't just glow - it burns. Once I get it out, I feel an overwhelming relief that has brought me to tears in the past.

Today the relief didn't last. The feeling in my chest came back, like I was supposed to say it again. Clearly the congregation didn't need me to repeat myself. They were there for the sermon, not for me, and they'd already gotten the message once. So I think there's someone else who needs to hear it - someone who wasn't in that room. In case you need it, here it is:

Stop hiding. That's not a rebuke - it's an encouragement. I don't know what you've done that you're so ashamed of, but it doesn't have to keep you from a good relationship with God. For one thing, He already knows about it. There is nothing we can do, say, or think that our Father isn't aware of. For another, if you give it to him, if you confess it and repent, He will forgive you. There's no need to sit in shame, or think that what you've done is so bad that you can't come back. That He's going to stop loving you. Your sin - even this one you're holding onto - was paid for on the cross. Jesus already took it. He washed your path in blood so that you can go to God no matter what has happened. You may feel like you don't deserve it, but the beauty of His love is that he saves us by grace. None of us "deserve it", yet He loves us anyway.

Jeremiah 33:8 reads "I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me." Ephesians 1:7 says "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." 1 John 1:9 is especially on point here: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I don't know about you, but before I was saved, I didn't go to God with everything. I didn't want to "bother" Him with things that weren't "important." I'm going to repeat that: I thought I was inconveniencing my Creator, my Father, who chose everything about me, who made me, who died for me. Now? I go to Him with everything. And the best part is, he's not going to cast you out because you messed up. He's not going to get sick of listening to you. He's not going to leave your prayer on "read" and go about His business. He loves you. He forgives you. He will answer you.

If this word rings true with you, I encourage you to pray. To reach out to your community to pray with you if you're comfortable doing so. We are all in this walk together. He holds your heart, and I (and others) will hold your hand.