Sometimes being told the truth about yourself is like drinking medicine from a broken-rimmed glass: what is being poured into you is therapeutic but painful to receive.
Wisdom comes from experience, not age. We can live into our golden years with a vice that has never been vanquished. We may have mastered blocking out the worst of us, but the truth about flaws is that they are notorious liars. Weak points in our armor keep us susceptible; we forget our strengths in the face of our vulnerabilities.
Most can pull at least one wiry thread from their lives that they recognize as something that does not belong. It pricks, tangling whatever is nearby. This coarse thread intertwines experiences and time until we accept that we are insufferably imperfect. In this recognition, we choose. We choose to pluck the thread or continue to repeat the pattern of unraveling ourselves when the consequences of our actions cause internal chaos.
Anyone who has tried to achieve a challenging, personal goal knows self-discipline is essential. We have a myriad of aspirations: lose weight, spend less, career advancement, refrain from being overly sensitive to the criticisms of others, become more dependable and trustworthy, risk failure, set healthier boundaries, and so on. Numerous factors affect outcomes, and not everyone’s situation can be managed using the same blueprint. Yet, many would agree that willpower is paramount. Even so, this motivational belief is flawed. The more we buy into the idea that success lies in the power of our will, the more we discover our heart’s deceptiveness and the mind’s excuses. Desire is not enough. Willpower is not enough. Just look at New Year’s resolutions: most have already faltered for various reasons. And there will always be reasons. We are brilliant at making declarations and brutal about disappointing ourselves and others. Most of us know what we need to do; the problem is following through consistently. If we are not aligning with God’s will, our willpower alone will eventually fall short.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
“He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).
God sees us, but we must remember that Satan does as well. Satan is a vigilant observer and a clever manipulator who has thoroughly examined the details of our armor. He has given us a few hits to see if our faith is durable. Satan knows exactly where the weak points in our armor are located. Exactly. We can become so accustomed to the weight and wear of our armor that we do not notice when small gaps appear, separating our thoughts and actions from the Word of God.
Recently, I had a friend question the condition of my armor. I believe God used this person to shake me up and out of my hiding place of excuses and unhealthy patterns. It wasn’t easy to receive their words, even though I knew they were right. American economist Thomas Sowell acknowledged the importance of having the right people in your corner by saying, “When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.”
Choices. It all comes down to intentional choices followed by deliberate living. How good of a friend in Christ are we going to be to those whose wellbeing we cherish? Who will we trust most to take the helm of our life? Self, others, the universe, God? As Believers, we can offer the obvious answer, but that does not mean we have a stellar record of following through. The best choice becomes more evident when we gather with disciples of Christ and seek truth from the Lord rather than our feelings or circumstances. Having an accountability partner rooted in Christ allows us to partner as agents of change for Christ.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
“Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Corinthians 7:5).
Warning: Be weary of those who call themselves Christians and try to shame you with judgment, using the Word of God against you. The Word of God is FOR YOU, not against you, and such demeaning behavior is not from God. Zealot religious people are looking to point a finger, not lend a hand. These are not your people. Satan delights in using sandpaper Christians to disparage you “in the name of God.”
Let us rightly remember the truth and promises found in the name of God:
I AM
Almighty
Great Physician
Father
Cornerstone
Master
Lord of Lords
Creator
Messiah
Jehovah
Redeemer
Light of the World
Counselor
Deliverer
Friend
Abba
King of Kings
Alpha and Omega
Prince of Peace
Rock
Yahweh
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
We are Satan’s prey, so let us be disciplined in praying for one another. God is greater than any willpower of humanity or Satan combined. Enlist God’s help and guidance. Let us not rebuke the counsel of friends who come to us in Christ’s love. May we be encouraged by God’s character and promises as we help one another take root in the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Too many Believers are hurting, yet there seems to be more people pointing a finger than lending a hand. We need connections — authentic connections. We need love — absolute love.
God, please help us be better followers and friends, turning our hearts and minds toward You. We know that our strength is nothing compared to Yours, God, and the majesty and mystery of Your eternal plans offset the temporary troubles of this world. May Your will be done as we surrender our pride for Your purpose, our will for Your wisdom, and our failures for Your grace.
Tiffany Kaye Chartier
SGLY, dear reader.
(Smile, God Loves You.)
Tiffany Kaye Chartier, Author 