Trust

It has been a long week made longer by the fact that I did not listen to my own advice.  Rather than revealing something I hid it.  The “something”, in this case, was an infection.  If I had revealed it when it first occurred, it might not have been so severe, and I would certainly be two days closer to being well.

I could try to say there was no sin here, but there was.  I did not love and trust my wife enough to share with her what was happening with my body.  I knew what she would do when I told her, and I was right.  She did what I needed done, even though I didn’t want to go to the doctor.  For whatever reason I felt better disabled by pain than dealing with the small inconvenience of what it would take to get well.

Your task is not to feel right but to act right. — Alan Noble in On Getting Out of Bed

Feelings are deceptive.  The deception is only amplified when you are dealing with some form of mental illness.  I may not know how to change my feelings, but I generally know the right thing to do.  If I’m unsure about that the people who love me can guide me if I am willing to trust them with what is going on.  This is as true for the sin in my life as it is for any infection I might encounter.  I need truth and when I’m deceived, I must trust someone else to provide it.

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. ⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:7-2:1 NIV)

To confess is to agree with.  Whether with God or someone who loves me, it is essential that I agree with them about my sin.  This is the first step in defeating the sin.  I was talking to someone yesterday about gaining victory over lust and pornography.  As I reviewed my story with him it was very clear that any progress toward victory that I’ve made has been dependent on my willingness to confess.

One of the consistent themes of Alan Noble’s book is the need for a Jesus centered community.  We all need people who love us like Jesus loves us.  This is especially true when we are struggling with some form of mental suffering.

I am frustrated that so many people who are struggling with some form of mental illness have also rejected Jesus.  Since they have rejected Jesus, they often reject the people who love them because those same people love Jesus.  As someone wrote in comment to my previous post, I am very fortunate that I am surrounded by people who love Jesus and love me.  Since we share a common love, it is much easier to hear truth from them even when I don’t want to agree.

What do you need to confess and who do you need to trust?  The grace we need to take the next right step flows out of our willingness to confess to Him.  We may need the help of another person to make God’s grace real.  When you’re looking for someone to trust search for someone who has experienced God’s grace and watch it flow through them to you.