"It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills. It is better to be hated for telling the truth than to be loved for telling a lie. It is better to stand alone with the truth, than to be wrong with a multitude. It is better to ultimately succeed with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie." - Dr. Adrian Rogers
Passing by a spring daffodil, its color immediately brightens the winter woods. How pleasant to see a pop of color after the winter has begun its journey away. We say, "Oh! There's a daffodil! Spring is coming !" We see the surface of the flower from a distance.
When the light of the sun penetrates through the petals of the daffodil, and we actually stop to look closely, the beautifully intricate details are visible. The layers are more clear.
Not only is the amazing handiwork of God revealed, but also the bruised petals possibly from heavy storms or the dried out parts from no refreshing drinks of rain for a long period of time.
As a daffodil we live. God created us wonderfully, and it has become the mission of some of us that others would see how beautifully strong we stand. We want the sturdy and warm smile always facing others. But... we've been through some major thunderstorms. Some of us have survived tsunamis in life. Our petals have spots and missing pieces.
Some of us stay away from the God-designed path of deepening relationships because we don't want anyone to see anything but a welcoming stem of petals standing tall with no extra support. We want our plea to echo through the woods, "See me! Hear me! Pick me! Love me!" while really hiding in the shadows.
We don't want anyone to know a whole petal was lost or part of a petal is brown past quickening. We don't even want to admit it to ourselves so we just hide and pretend we are all good all on our own. The saddest part of this is we refuse to let God shine His light of Truth through our whole being for our whole life - from first breath until now. Without the light of Truth, nothing is exposed - neither the parts that need healing nor the amazing parts created that could be cultivated for God's glory.
It is not usually popular to speak Truth amidst a traditional religious facade or within a culture where truth is not based on God's Word. It is much easier to stay in the shadows in the name of unity and peace with others, but sadly, we are content to therefore forfeit peace with God ourselves. We can hide from friends and even our closest of kin, but we can never hide from God.
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." - Proverbs 15:3 KJV
Until we allow the light of Truth to permeate through our hearts... until we are willing to be honest before our Holy God... until we are humbly seeking help and direction in our lives from God Himself and godly others... until we can trust Him with our broken hearts... we will miss out on His warm presence and His bold empowerment that would radiate His light and the beauty of His holiness.
God created us for His glory. I pray His pure, faithful love begins to balm our hearts beginning now and His perfect, revealing light shines His Truth into all of our life stories.
~jlw