Once upon a time there was a nice looking Jeep Grand Cherokee. This Jeep looked great on the outside! It didn’t have any dents, little wear and tear, nice brand new off road tires and a nice rack on top for lots of cargo. The inside of this Jeep was just as awesome as it had a plethora of room where you could lay the seats down and take a nap. This Jeep was also four wheel drive equipped and could drive over just about anything!
People said “What a nice Jeep that is!” and “that’s one of the nicest Jeeps I’ve ever seen” and “I bet that Jeep will never quit running” also one person said, “That Jeep’s interior is so nice and clean I’ve never seen leather seats so upkept.”
The Jeep Nobody Knew
This impeccable Jeep became suddenly ill on the inside. The Jeep’s wheels started to make loud noises, the engine started making strange sounds and if that doesn’t sound bad enough, fluid started coming from the engine to the inside of the Jeep. Things for this Jeep looked great on the outside but horrible on the inside deep down within the Jeep.
Replace the Jeep with yourself for a second. We can seem spotless and beautiful on the outside like nothing is wrong. We can even look incredible on the inside of our lives, meaning our family home is nice, we seem like we’ve got good relationships in our life, our finances are right, we try to do good by people and we are respected. Even with all of those things looking good we can be just like that jeep. On the inside deep within not happy, leaking fluid, not healthy, not running as good as we look on the outside.
Feeling like this leaves us wondering “does God love me as I am” or “will I be loved as much if I express what’s really going on?” It begs the question… would all of those people have said the same things if they had known about the problems deep within the jeep?
I get it. You feel like if you show your true self then people will see that you aren’t as put together as you seem to be. You feel that if you really shared how you felt you would be judged and nobody would care or want to hangout with you.
Let me comfort you for a minute, you are not alone in feeling like this. I’ve thought these thoughts as well and have learned the difference between the lies and the truth.
Lie:
“If I seem put together on the outside and hide who I really am along with my true feelings then other people and God will think highly of me and accept me.”
Truth:
Jesus loves us for who we really are and accepts our brokenness. Jesus knows we aren’t perfect and He doesn’t expect us to be. We can ruin our lives by destroying our happiness and joy all by chasing the “perfect” life. If we have genuine authentic godly friends then they shouldn’t care how “put together” we may look. They’ll be there for the brokenness and happiness of life.
Something I’ve learned is this: Jesus and authentic genuine friends both want the REAL you!
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. (Psalm 139:1 NIV)
Jesus knows everything about us including our deepest thoughts and insecurities. He can handle them and He’s called us to live an authentic life depending on Him for our joy.
Often we get caught up in the type of thinking that says “God can’t handle my pain” and “God won’t give me healing and rest” when in reality those are things that He wants to do for you.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)
Jesus wants the real you, not a fake version of you. He’s waiting on you to turn to Him and surrender your brokenness. Are you tried of trying to be perfect for yourself, God or others? That’s no way to live and it’s certainly not how Jesus wants us to live.
Let Him show you how to rest, let Him heal you, Turn to Him and be guided into infinite joy and peace. Let him show you how to live an authentic life. You don’t have to be perfect anymore, come out of hiding. Jesus loved you before you ever loved Him. There’s no need to cover what He already see.
A song I LOVE and listen to often is called “Out Of Hiding” by Steffany Gretzinger and I strongly encourage you to give it a listen. 🙂
Reflect:
- What areas of life are you putting up a front for others?
- What in your life have you not surrendered to Jesus?
- What do you think would happen to you if you took Jesus at his word and lived an authentic life?
Bryant Westbrook 