HONEST MOMENTS
“The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. ”
The deepest desire of the human soul is to love and be loved. The closer someone is, the clearer they see our flaws. Proximity tests love. It reveals how deeply a person chooses to care despite imperfection. Yet shame and pride often block us from receiving that kind of love. Even in the presence of supportive people, shame twists what we see. If it’s not shame, it’s pride. We rush to bury what’s ugly to protect our image. But honesty is more honourable than hiding.
Those who choose to live behind these walls end up the same way: alone. Afraid to let anyone close enough to see their brokenness, they slowly push people away. They begin to believe the lie that they are nothing more than their flaws. Fear of being exposed traps them in a cycle of pretending. In truth, it’s the people closest to us who can speak life and remind us of our worth. Too often, this is only seen when it’s too late, when isolation has already taken root.
Shame and pride are heavy barriers that keep us from unconditional love. No relationship can thrive if one person refuses to admit their need to be loved.
“One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom.” ”
Though deep shame can be eased by those closest to us, it can never be fully covered by them. The weight of falling short of the glory of God has rested on human hearts since the fall. No human love can remove it. Only God can.
It takes a covering from Him, a washing by blood, a perfect sacrifice, to make us clean. In moments of deep shame and despair, look to the cross. Look to the Saviour who bore our shame and sin and died for us. In Him, we find redemption and the strength to rise, to reach out, and to love again.