The genuineness of our faith is more valuable than gold. -1 Peter 1:6
When I think about genuine faith, I think about having a real relationship with God and a real relationship with others. They go hand in hand for me. Loving God and loving His people. I think it’s just that simple. So many times, I think we forsake having an authentic relationship with God’s people because we feel such a need to have it all together.
I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t have it all together. Social media can make it look like my babies are always smiling, my house is always clean, and I never snap at my husband, but let’s be real. I’m usually a mess and I always need Jesus.
Have you ever heard the saying “Don’t air your dirty laundry?” Basically, it means don’t tell your secrets… or at least the ones that make you look less than pulled together. And I actually kind of hate that saying. I hate skeletons in the closet. I don’t like to bottle it all up and keep it all hidden, because I have felt the freedom that comes with telling my story. I know the power of testimony.
Revelation 12:11a AMP says “And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony…”
The way that we overcome the enemy and all of his tools (guilt, shame, depression, fear) is with the blood of Jesus and our words. Sharing our stories. Telling the truth. Speaking it out loud. Bringing the darkness and the hidden things into the light.
Jesus already died on the cross and spilled His blood so that we can live. We already have that. And that in itself is amazing and powerful beyond comprehension. But, when we pair what Jesus did with our own testimonies of how He has changed and is changing our lives, there is freedom like we have never known.
I think that’s the challenge that we face, dear one. To share what Jesus IS changing in our lives and not just what Jesus HAS changed in our lives. It’s easy to talk about something once it’s over and done with. The real challenge is to voice what is taking place right now, today. It’s hard to walk something out with other people.
So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. -1 Thessalonians 5:11 MSG
God’s design isn’t for us to go through life alone. His design is for us to love Him and love one another.
Sometimes it looks like writing a blog about it, sometimes it looks like sharing it with a friend, and sometimes it looks like just reaching out and asking one person for prayer.
Having authentic faith is hard. Being open and sharing about what you are going through is something that takes strength and bravery. And it’s that first step, that one moment when you say it out loud for the first time, that’s the hardest. But the beautiful thing is that by saying it, you are taking a step out of the bondage of your situation and into the freedom that God has for you.
Today, take a step into freedom by being open and transparent about something that you are going through. By taking that step, you will be living out genuine faith, and that is more valuable than gold.
With messy hair and wild grace,
Ellyn
