The Truth that Leads to Healing - Part 1
- Vernita "Neat" Simmons
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
The time arrives when you can no longer withhold the silence any longer. The conversation must take place regardless of how uncomfortable you feel. You asked God for guidance and prepared for an honest, necessary exchange, hesitant yet bracing for an inevitable conversation. In this moment, fully aware of what could happen, it captures the courage required to face the truth before a single word is spoken.
This quote really resonates with me, so I could not resist sharing these words of wisdom. The Bible has much to teach us about the truth because truth is more than honesty. It embodies the unblemished character of God, and Isaiah 65:16, AMP calls Him the God of truth. So, what is truth? Dear One, without truth, relationships fracture, and souls stay wounded.
According to the Bible Hub, the Tropical Bible defines truth as: In the biblical context, truth is a fundamental attribute of God and a central theme throughout Scripture. It is often associated with God's character, His Word, and His revelation to humanity. Truth is depicted as absolute, unchanging, and eternal, reflecting the nature of God Himself. (1)
Honesty is foundational to healthy relationships. Ephesians 4:15 encourages us to speak the truth in love. And even John 8:32, ESV declares that we shall know the truth, and it shall set us free. The truth is, everybody appreciates compliments, praise, and thank you. However, not many want to be held accountable. When confronted, people may become defensive, and their heart posture shines brighter than the sun.
Why would anyone be offended when you tell them the truth? Why do people choose to lie rather than be trustworthy? Truth is like surgery. When surgery is necessary, the aftereffects may be painful, and it takes time to heal. Similarly, sometimes a surgeon must remove something for healing to occur. Dear One, the truth might reveal their true intentions, habits that they cling to, which hinder growth, and it shows them who they really are. When we call into question actions that harm others with no regard for the effects on those lives, some people deny the truth and excuse their behavior. For those who do not want to hear the truth, this can be painful for them to accept.
Although they care for others, these habits are who they are, so they continue to practice the insanity of doing the same things while expecting different results. Coming face-to-face with the real you, who you are in denial of, can be a painful experience. They may also feel you are correcting them and wonder who gave you the right to do so.
So, when the truth shows areas in their lives where they need to improve, but they feel they are fine as they are, resistance becomes futile. They may become defensive and may lash out, treat you as if you do not exist, and even distance themselves. Until they can face the truth, they will not acknowledge their contribution to the problem. Even if they apologize, it is usually insincere because they continue to exhibit the same behavior.
Dear One, the truth may be painful, but it can lead to your healing, while a lie will have long-term side effects. You could get stuck in a world of deceit and pretense. John 8:44 tells us that Satan is the father of lies. When someone is deceitful, they align themselves with the devil's plans and purposes rather than God’s. It could cause detrimental damage to your relationships with others due to the distrust.
Likewise, lying may ruin your reputation because people now view you as dishonest and unreliable. Once those lies are uncovered, it could cause tremendous strain in your relationship. Beloved, regaining trust is hard when there is a history of dishonesty. Lies have torn families and nations apart and have impacted communities and your relationship with God. Even Proverbs 12:22 declares, "Lying lips are extremely disgusting to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." So, what do you do when someone you care for is unwilling to hear the truth?
Join us in Part 2 to discover what to do when someone is unwilling to hear the truth.
May the song; Truth Be Told by Matthew West, empower you to realize there's no failure, no fall, there's no sin God doesn't already know, so let the truth be told.
TIME FOR REFLECTION: What practical means did you learn from Part 1 about the importance of being trustworthy? Do you find it difficult or easy to tell those you care about the truth? Let's encourage each other and discuss this in the comments below. Hit that heart and share. Let’s get ready for Part 2.
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