Thursday, March 7, 2013

Secret Sins: Because Sometimes We Need to Stop Hiding & Seek Help

in the butterfly greenhouse
Photo credit: richkidsunite

So, I'm not very transparent. I realized that today as I sat listening to a woman in my Bible study today pour out her heart, and I had nothing to say.

Sharing my feelings, venting my frustrations, asking for advice--none of that comes easy for me. I'm much more of a figure-it-out-for-myself kinda gal. Yes, it's pride. But I also tend to think of my faults as trivial. Hey, I haven't murdered anyone, right?

But to think that my sins are inconsequential is foolish.



Instead of asking for the help I need, instead of calling out to the One who can help, I bottle up my secret sins, shove them into the dark recesses of my mind, and file them away as if no one can see them. And they can't.

But He can.

God knows my heart problems. He knows the deep dark secrets that no one--not even my husband--fully comprehends.

And to think that I'm fooling Him, that I can put on this good girl mask and present a pretty front to the world and He'll buy it too, well, that's just ridiculous. Foolish and ridiculous.

He knows.


We all have struggles. There are some problems we might feel comfortable sharing with a close friend and other areas that we would be embarrassed if anyone knew. So instead of dealing with that issue, we hide from it.

But what happens? The sin festers and grows until it reaches the blistering point.

Then, when we snap, when we reach our limit, when there's no where else to turn, we start to wonder if maybe that sin is really bigger than we thought. That maybe we might just need a little help.


Break Point
Photo credit: yellowcloud

I'm struggling: with loving my husband like I should, with showing grace to my children, with anger issues, with so many seemingly trivial insecurities. And yet people think I've got it all together, that I'm a great wife and mom, that I'm Little Miss Homemaker. But it's a facade. My issues are real. I've just managed to hide them better than they have. I've played it safe and kept my dirty laundry at home instead of airing it for others to see.

And what have I gained?

Nothing. In fact, I venture to guess that I've lost a lot because instead of seeking the help I need, I've turned and run in the other direction. I've avoided the sin staring me in the face and tried to assuage my guilt through good works.



But if we want to grow in His glory and if we want to be better wives, moms, and daughters of the King, then we have to acknowledge areas of sin that we've been hiding, and we have to take them to God, humbly submitting them at His feet, and asking for forgiveness, healing, and change. We may not be ready to share our struggles with others yet, but we at least need to confess them to the One who already knows.

Is there a secret sin you've been too afraid to admit--something you think no one else knows about and that you might be too ashamed to share? Confess it to the One who loves you no matter what and who wants to help you become the child He's called you to be.


I'm praying for you as we strive to become more like Christ each day. Pray for me, too.


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Linking up with:  The Better Mom, Raising ArrowsMama Moments MondayThe Modest MomTime-Warp WifeTeach Me TuesdaysTitus 2 TuesdaysTop 10 TuesdayLeaving a LegacyWomen Living Well WednesdaysRaising HomemakersRaising Mighty Arrows

12 comments:

  1. This is really beautiful. I like you even more because of it. :) It reminds me of that scripture about confessing our sins to one another.

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    1. Thank you so much! Your words really encouraged me. Sometimes being a mom is so isolating that I feel like I'm the only one struggling, but that's just not true.
      We're all struggling with something, and as Christians, we need to encourage each other to confess those sins to each other--as you said--to spur each other on.

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  2. Keri - I have great pride for you right now, what an awesome post. Yes we are all hiding parts of our sinful nature, but God sees everything, so why not bare it all, and not be ashamed. His Grace will cover us when we need it, and His love will heal those scars from past transgressions. Wonderful message, thanks for sharing.

    Marissa

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  3. What a great post! I struggle with the same things. Only....I am an open book, I share my sins and hurts very easily...or so I thought. Your post helped me to see that there are some that I hide.

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  4. What a great post! I suffer with the same things, the anger, etc. But so many think that I am a good mom and wife.....only, I have always convinced myself that I am an open book. I see now that I am not on the things that really hurt me.

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    1. I never realized how many women struggle with anger. I've felt so alone in it, but I'm beginning to see it's not just me. That makes me feel so much better because I've thought for so long there was something wrong with me. Thanks for sharing your heart.

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  5. Awesome post! There is so much freedom in sharing and bringing the truth out in the open.

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    1. Thanks, Rach. I agree with you. It's very freeing to confess our sins to others, and it gives us accountability to actually make the changes that need to be made.

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  6. It's amazing how much relief I feel when I'm able to talk about struggles with my husband and with close, trusted friends. They remind me that God loves and forgives me. Thanks for being so open with this post!

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    1. My husband is a great confidante too, but I really have to work to share with him. I'm just not very open with my faults although I need to be. Good thoughts!

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  7. Hey, it's Debt Free Mommy here. I've just published my first e-book and I'm super excited about it, but I need to get the word out. It's on promotion right now and free for only 3 days. If you're at all interested in a short, week long devotional on clearing fear-based clutter from your life, please follow my link and download it while it's still free (March 19-21). Thanks, Tabitha

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Cluttered-Christian-Fear-based-ebook/dp/B00BW7CP8U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1363704456&sr=1-1&keywords=the+cluttered+christian

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  8. I was really struggling with this and then I stumbled upon a book called The Promise of a Mother's Prayers. Let me tell you, it will free you!!! It's such an encouragement to moms. So much so that I gathered my mom friends and we did a little Bible Study together with the book and it was so freeing to hear that I was NOT alone in how I felt or reacted at times.

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