Hidden Places
We all have them. Some of us have more of them than others. But this is not a competition. We keep score only in our own minds. We compare and contrast hoping that there’s some solace in the comparison outcome. Ironically, if we release them we no longer have to hold on to the shame we have associated with them.
It is part of being human. We all have places or experiences or thoughts that we hide from the world, our family and friends, even our spouses. We somehow think that bearing the shame and hiding our failures is the only option. Fear leads to this conclusion.
Many years ago I found the stress of keeping my secrets hidden lead me to making disastrous choices. I had anxiety that tied my stomach in constant knots. I had asked God to forgive me yet felt I did not deserve His forgiveness. I was desperate to find relief.
Ultimately the Bible makes it very clear that God knows everything – nothing is hidden from Him as laid out in 1 John 3:20, “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”
Knowing this was not comforting. It lead me to a feeling of being unforgivable and from there more negative feelings just piled on…
— Shame
— Thoughts of Inadequacy
__ Lost hope
__ Anxiety
__ Fear
Even though God knows all, He still asks us to confess to Him our hidden places of which we are ashamed. He assures us He will indeed forgive us. This is what were are told in I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Even though I had asked God to forgive me, I still was held hostage by the shame of my hidden places.
But there’s more. The Bible calls us to share our sins, including all the things we have hidden, not just with God, but also with other Christians. We read in James 5:16,“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Did you caught that? Do you see why we are to confess our sins to each other? It’s what leads to healing. This action is the second step of being able to no longer be ashamed. When we reveal our sins that we have so carefully hidden we are then finally free. When I shared my hidden places with another Christian I was finally on the road to healing.
It can be hard to imagine. It can be an enormously difficult step or process, even overwhelming. For me, it took a significant amount of time to bring myself to take this second step. Once I did, however, I never looked back! I then started the ongoing process of reminding myself of my value as God’s child. With the assurances of the Bible and God’s words, I was sure this was the correct path to healing and freedom. It can be for you too.
I have now a freedom that is life giving. Do you need to confess to God and another Christian to find freedom? Take these steps and begin the journey toward healing.
JW