Lie number one: You're supposed to have it all together. And when they ask how you're doin', just smile and tell them, "Never better".
Lie number two: Everybody's life is perfect except yours. So keep your messes and your wounds and your secrets safe with you behind closed doors.
But truth be told, the truth is rarely told, no... I say, "I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine, oh, I'm fine, hey, I'm fine". But I'm not, I'm broken.
-“Truth Be Told” by Matthew West
If your anything like me, these lyrics speak truth and hit deep. There are so many people (myself included) in this world saying “I’m fine, it’s fine, everything is fine”.
But is it really? At the surface we put on a brave front. At the surface we are trying our best. At the surface we are controlling the swirling circumstances around us.
But truth be told, we are not fine. Truth be told there is hurt, there is worry, there is heartache, and pain, and grief, and sorrow deep deep down.
We are not okay, but you know what, that’s okay! No really, it’s okay to not be okay. Admitting it’s not all okay to God and a close trusted friend and giving yourself space to feel all the feels is a great first step towards getting to a better place.
As a society, we are often taught to keep those feelings in check. To tuck them under the rug. Or to shove them way down until we don’t feel them anymore. Admitting those feelings can often be looked at as a sign of weakness, a lack of self control, or a lack of faith.
But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In the Bible it says “Confess your sins one to another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16). God doesn’t want us to keep our hurts and feelings to ourselves, he wants us to share them with one another so that we may receive truth, so that we may receive light, so that we may receive prayer, and perspective, and peace, and hope, and ultimately healing.
Now this doesn’t mean you start blurting everything you are going through to every person you meet. You will want to share with someone you trust, someone who is going to meet you in the middle with faith, with perspective, and prayer.
So if you are like me today, and just going through a whole lot, I encourage you to first bring it to God (yeah he already knows, but somehow admitting your feelings and audibly speaking to him helps).
Secondly I encourage you to share with a close faith-filled friend. The simple act of sharing where you are at, where you are really honestly at, can be such a relief. Knowing someone else is in your court, cheering you on, and praying you up can make all the difference!
Praying over you friend- for courage, and strength, and hope for a better tomorrow!