In my work with a leadership coaching ministry, I have been taught to lead a discussion regarding the reality of context. I show a map of a mall and ask the team to give me directions to a specific store. Usually this task is met with confused stares for a moment and then someone ask, “Where are we starting from?”.
It is challenging to get to where you want to be if you don’t know where you are.
This idea is true in our spiritual lives as well. If we are unwilling to be honest about where we are, we will rarely get to where we want to be. We can only begin from our current reality and move forward. We cannot begin where we think we should be or where we want to be.
Yet I often find myself struggling to be honest with God, myself, and my band about where I am struggling, because I don’t want to face or admit the harder or uglier or more painful areas of my spiritual life. I only want to share the pretty parts. I don’t want to admit I am angry with God about a disappointment because that is not what “good” Christians do. I don’t want to admit I have trust issues with the Lord because I know He is a good God and always faithful. I know what I “should” be feeling, so I repress and hide the parts of myself I want to deny.
Not only does this behavior delay progress on the spiritual journey, it is an act of futility. God knows exactly where I am and where I am struggling. God knows and meets us where we are.
Just recently a bandmate shared how she found release from unforgiveness by truly confessing to the Holy Spirit all of the ugly emotions she was having toward some fellow Christians. She had struggled for a long time trying to forgive her fellow Christians. During our band meeting she confessed all of her pain and anger in a moment of honesty with the Holy Spirit. He met her with true forgiveness (for her and from her toward her fellow Christians) and release from the painful feelings of anger.
Bringing our pain into the light, begins the process of healing. In being honest about where we are, the Holy Spirit will meet us there and give good counsel and comfort allowing us to move forward. We worship a big God, a strong God, a good God. He can take all of our emotions and struggles and is not afraid of the uglier parts of our journey. Even in our disobedience and struggles, God cares for us. Take comfort in these words from Isaiah…
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him
Isaiah 30: 18 NIV
Stephanie has found Inspire to be a source of healing for her life. She is an Inspire Missioner based in Kansas, USA
