The joy of being fully known

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.

James 5:16

When little Mike was about 10 years old, he made friends with two brothers in his neighborhood, Tim and Jeff. Mike didn’t have a brother, so just for fun, he told the boys he had a twin brother named Mark – and he really played it up.

When they were playing baseball, for example, Mike would go home, change his clothes, and come back as Mark. He even learned to be a switch hitter because Mark was left-handed! After a while, Tim and Jeff became suspicious, and started asking questions like, “Why do you and Mark ride the same bike?” and “Why don’t we ever see you together?”

But Mike kept the con going. Whenever the boys came over, Mike or Mark would appear while the other conveniently had a ballgame, choir rehearsal, or was at a friend’s house. Then one day, Jeff asked Mike’s mom where Mark was. “Who is Mark?” she said. The gig was up.

Mike’s story – as fantastic as it is – is really the story of all of us, isn’t it? While we may not go as far as inventing a twin, every single person is guilty of pretending to be something they’re not. That’s because we’ve all experienced fear that people won’t accept us for who we are.

But God wants us to live authentically – to share our struggles, our sins, and our fears with one another. So don’t fake your way through life. Be open and honest about yourself, and experience the joy of being fully known!

 

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to expose the areas of your life you’ve kept in the shadows because of fear.

 

Questions for Thought

What’s one thing about you that you’re terrified about others finding out?

How might God redeem your hidden struggles if you brought them to light around the right people?