You Can't Handle the Truth! November 18, 2009
article by Lauren Neal
I’ve recently had the privilege of starting a mentoring relationship with an “older” woman at this church. (She’s not old, just older than me!) I have had a desire for a mentor for a while, and, amazingly, she had wanted a mentoree for a while, too. So, as we chatted, and got deeper into talking about what this whole interaction would look like, she said, “Ok. So, what type of person are you? Are you the type that asks me to give truth, and really just wants to hear something nice, or are you the type that wants the actual truth?”
Oh! You’re one of those people! Ugh! Of course, I’m the person that wants to hear nice things. Everyone is. I think I should be the type of person that wants to hear truth, but the reality is, is that all of us just want to hear what we want to hear.
I’ve been pursuing a “career” in home interior design for about 3-4 years now, and have been somewhat successful. However, recently I’ve started losing my taste for it. I believe this to be God. I already know that He’s asked me to focus more on ministry than this job pursuit, yet I’ve continued down the path of the job. It’s been somewhat unclear; until Monday. Monday I went on a design job, where I felt more directed to talk with the client about what was going on in her life, than the design at hand. These are the little truths of God, personally speaking into my life that really endears me to Him. Don’t get me wrong–I’m slightly frustrated about the design thing probably not working out, but I’m in love with a God who turns my pursuits into His pursuits, so lovingly.
Truth is given so harshly by people often times, yet God has no time frame in which to “be right”. He, of course, loves an obedient heart, but he loves ME. Because He loves me, He will wait and correct, wait and correct, and wait and correct some more. He knows what it will take for my obedience to come to fruition, and He knows that I desire to be tuned into Him. We love each other. I can really only handle His truth. Everyone else’s sometimes stings, or is just their truth. My God always only gives me THE truth.
umm- goosebumps. Thanks Lauren, for sharing the truth about the way, the truth and the life. His lovingkindness never ends and so we get to keep coming back to his truth.