Truth Revealed

A favourite part of the retreat for many takes place late on Saturday afternoon.  In this session we spend time asking God to reveal a lie we have come to believe as true.  So long have we believed this lie, it influences how we think, how we feel about ourselves, and often how we relate to others.  After seeing the lie as to what it truly is, we then ask God to reveal to us the truth.  This truth replaces the lie.

It is often surprising what memories God brings to mind that are connected to the lies.  In my case, this retreat was no exception.  God reminded me of a particular lunch break in elementary school.  I was hanging out with my friends on a grassy field.  Unbeknownst to me, the girls had planned a dandelion “sneak attack.”   In the middle of our games, the girls surrounded me.  Giggling, they rubbed dandelions up and down my arms and legs, leaving behind bright yellow streaks.

“Okay God,” I thought, “what’s the big deal with this memory?” Though I remembered being somewhat hurt, I certainly wouldn’t have classified it as “traumatic.”  After all, my friends had only meant it in fun.  Curious as to what He’d reveal, I continued forward in listening to God.

Jesus showed me that my lie was rooted in the fear of not knowing what would happen next.  In my memory, I was completely unsuspecting of this weed ambush and was not pleased with the outcome.  The lie was planted that if I could control what was happening, then perhaps I could prevent such things from occurring.

Next I was invited to see God in this picture.  The speaker led us to ask, ‘Jesus, where were you in that moment?”  Jesus showed me that He was right there with me – and even though I was surprised by the incident, He was not.  He knew all about it and was with me before, during and after the event.

To you, this revelation might not seem like a comforting one.  To me, it made the world of difference.  His truth revealed was that He is not surprised by what ‘life’ brings my way.  He knows exactly what is going to happen and He is always with me in the midst of it.  I don’t have to be in fear and I also didn’t have to be in control.  I have His steadfast presence beside me and the confidence of being held by my heavenly Father’s hands.

This picture helped me understand.  It changed the emotion of the memory from fearfulness to peace.  It replaced thoughts of self-protection with the reality of an Everlasting Defender.

Surprising? Yes. New information?  Not really.  The difference was all in the delivery.  Instead of being taught as second hand material, the truth was spoken into my life by Jesus Himself.  My feelings were similar to the Samaritans in John 4: “Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves’.”  ~John 4:42