The Reality of Life

Sitting in a newly opened restaurant in town, the four of us eagerly caught up with one another.

It was so good to hear updated news from each dear friend. Because we had known each other as long as we had, we were more than ready, to be honest. It was easy to be transparent with one another.

It wasn’t long before I began to see a trend.

Whether we were discussing the new roles in our lives, such as employee, caregiver, empty-nester, in-law, or grandparent, or even the on-going roles like spouse, parent, or child, the stories naturally flowed from the joys into the challenges associated with each area. It was as if every relational opportunity represented areas of responsibility, refinement.

It came to our attention that as we lived longer, growing into the various roles throughout the seasons of life, the more our hearts were revealed. Sins and struggles we never knew we had began to emerge.

A new experience had potential to reveal a new limitation, a new conviction.

I think we were a little surprised.

I know I was.

Just as we learned of the impatience buried deep within our hearts, only unearthed as we became young wives and mothers, we were still learning things about ourselves in these new seasons as “older” women. And some of it wasn’t very pretty.

Thoughts were exposed.

Hearts were revealed.

                                   Why did it seem surprising?

Did we think now that we were exiting the seasons of our twenties, thirties, and forties, that all the lessons were learned?

                      Was there no more “yuck” to be revealed?

Did we think God had culled up all the dross from the deep recesses of our heart with nothing more to expose?

The Reality of Scripture

Just that morning I had been reading about the birth of Jesus and the prophecy given about Him to His parents. Luke 2:25-35

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”  The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

As I considered what I had read, and the ensuing revelations of sinful tendencies embedded deep within our hearts, I realized that what was happening was exactly what was SUPPOSED to happen.

Jesus was revealing the thoughts of our heart!

His purpose from the get-go was to reveal man’s sin, in order that He could save us from it.  What we are ignorant of, or try so hard to avoid, can’t help but be revealed by Him. His light highlights our darkness. John 1:4-5 and 9 explains,

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

This gave insight as to what was happening around that table of middle-aged women, as we shared our roles, both new and old, with one another. The darkness of our hearts was being revealed as we operated in these relationships.

The Reality of Jesus

This should not come as a surprise but as an expectation. As Believers, Jesus will continually be cleansing us from our sin, if we allow Him that opportunity. It all depends on how we respond to the revelation of His light as it reflects into our lives.

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

We see from John 3:19 that we have a choice when His light reveals the darkness in our hearts. We will either accept this revelation, which leads to salvation first and then ongoing sanctification, or we will reject it.

By rejecting His revealing nature, we are in essence, rejecting Him. Share on X

Did we relish having our “wrongs” exposed as we shared around that dinner table? No.

But as Believers, we understood the necessity and life offered from the convictions we felt. If we accepted the contradictions He exposed in us, and as we repented, we would be able to receive forgiveness and grace for overcoming said sins.

We may not like learning the ugly truth deep down in our hearts. There is so much hope when we do!

We can welcome the revealing nature of Jesus Christ in and around our conversations. His nature shows us the path to true freedom as we seek to love those God has given us.

---

For more encouragement, you might enjoy these posts:

When Desperate Becomes Your New Norm

Want to Know Why and How I Gave Up Control?

How to Break Free From Faithless Prayers

 

---

---