What’s my toddler hiding?
As I came home from an early appointment my little toddler came quickly to find me. But this time his feet were a little slower. When I saw him he looked the same as I left him with dad this morning, still in his pjs. Then he started pointing to himself. At first I thought he was letting me know he wanted to go to the bathroom. I thought ‘YAY, early potty training’ but quickly I realized he was pointing to his legs. As I looked more closely I could see that there were ‘stuff’ inside his pjs. I could then hear the sound of clanking while he walked. I guess unknown to my husband he had been stuffing his toys down his pjs.
This brought to memory Hebrews 12:1 (NIV). “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let’s throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” How many times do we hide our sin or our mistakes? I know I do. I have insecurities that pop up and all I want to do is what my son just showed me, hide them. I don’t want people to know that I am afraid of being an author because I don’t want it to all go to my head. But I am also afraid of not being an author because I love writing and so dearly want my writing published. I hide my sin of jealous. I would never say that I am jealous, but it is there and every time someone does something better than me or before I can do it the envy creeps in. Why don’t we confess our sins more often? Scripture is very clear about that in James 5:16 NIV “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
When I unzipped his pjs and removed all these tinker toys stuck inside his pant legs and feet he could walk much easier and run freely. As Christ followers, we are only hindering our walk with Jesus if we keep hiding our mistakes and sins. God is always forgiving like in 1 John 1:9 NIV says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
I challenge you today! Find an accountability partner or a group of friends that you can confess your mistakes and sins to. They can hold you accountable. Also verbally confess out loud to God. He knows them, but it helps us to say them out loud. And last write them out. There is freedom is writing. Hence that is why I know that I needed to stop cleaning my house for 30 minutes and write this note. It helped remind me not to hide my sins and mistakes too.
Let’s pray Lord I know that I will make mistakes and mess up today, but I also know that the more I spend time with you the more wisdom and guidance you will give me to not make the same mistakes tomorrow. Help me find someone I trust to confess my sins to and help me trust and believe that YOU have forgiven me. Thank you for your forgiveness and grace! Help me to show that to others today. Amen
