Is Help Available to Overcome Painful Consequences?

Few things are more disturbing emotionally than suspicion because joy and peace of mind are threatened. Suspicion is bonded to betrayal, whether real or imagined, for everyone tends to hide certain aspects of their behavior and personality that are disconcerting.

We are now conditioned to expect cover-ups and deceitfulness from those who serve us politically, as Jeremiah 17:9 explains, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Deceit and secrets are a choice, as are truth and honesty.

Jeremiah 17:10 offers hope for reconciliation: “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind to reward a man [or woman] according to his [or her] conduct.” God provides helpful opportunities for openness and honesty, so new beginnings become possible, including hope and strength for facing painful consequences of past choices and behavior. He is a God of forgiveness and reconciliation. 

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Then submit to God. Resist the devil and he will run away from you. Come close to God and he will come close to you.

~James 4:7-8 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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A Defiant Display of Self-deception

Romantic relationships have consistently proven to be fertile fields where self-deception can sprout and grow. Being in love is comforting and exciting, but nerve-wrecking when reality exerts itself for recognition. Self-deception demonstrates itself when conflict is apparent but circumvented. Denial of what is obvious is self-deception.

Self-deception is believing insignificant issues are irrelevant, but trivial issues can evolve into major frustration when reality can no longer be suppressed. Moses grew to believe he could manage the needs of the Hebrew people instead of following God's initiatives. His flawed judgment proved to be extremely costly.

The people needed water so God instructed Moses to speak to a rock and water would flow from it. Defiantly, Moses struck the rock with his staff demonstrating his uncontrollable anger.  Always give anger time to subside before acting. Praise God for loving you and giving you wisdom for managing difficult situations.  

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“Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed. I, the Lord search the minds and test the hearts of people. I treat each of them according to the way they live, according to what they do.”  

~Jeremiah 17:9-10 Good News Bible

 

So let us continue coming with courage to the throne of God’s unmerited favor to obtain his mercy and to find his spiritual strength to help us when we need it.

~Hebrews 4:16 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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