I haven't been to the dentist in 2+ years. This is terrible. I've had my excuses but now things are calm and the time is there to go. So why don't I make an appointment? It's simple, I'm afraid of what they'll find. Two years of neglect will most likely result in major dental work needed as well as cash money. (Insert wide-eyed emoticon) And to think this could have been avoided by making my yearly appointment.
Our spiritual lives are a lot like this. We hold back from talking to God or spilling our secrets to a friend because we're afraid of what will happen. We're afraid we might actually have to rip the bandage off and expose our wound as well as tend to it. And because this is frightening we go on our merry way and tuck it deeper inside until so much time has passed that you could have sworn it was gone. Out of sight and out of mind.
This can't be what God intended. Denial, tucked away pain, and fear of the exposed do not sound like safety in a Father we are supposed to trust. They sound like lies. Lies we tell ourselves for a sense of safety that are in fact false. God should be safe. And the reason He is safe is because he busts those lies wide open. Fear of what he'll find is nonsense because he already knows. And as you confess and lift your eyes up toward him he helps you unpack the tucked away pain and fear. It was never about what he might find, it was always about him restoring you through Christ.
This is not and should not be something new you've heard if you've sat in a chair at church. But it still might be new if you have yet to experience exposing an old sin or wound because you're afraid of what will be found. So please please remember restoration is ours because He is SAFE and Jesus made sure of this on the Cross.
*Go take a listen to the worship song "He's good good Father"
