FRIEND

Today, I met up with Wayne, whom I worked with 45 years ago, at the City Council, and we shared some stories! How good it is to find out that our fears and failures are common to all. Even though we are designed for connection, sometimes we are scared to be known. We wear masks, hide our flaws, and post only our best days. But that never makes us feel truly loved—because we suspect if people knew the real us, they’d not be so impressed.

We know from Genesis 3:10: “I was afraid because I was naked, and so I hid.” Fear makes us hide our past, our pain, our real selves. And the real fear is rejection. We’ve all felt it—by a parent, a friend, even believers, and we vow, “Never again.” But walls that keep hurt out also keep love out. We end up lonely and disconnected.

Jesus understands rejection. Betrayed, abandoned, crucified—He endured the ultimate rejection. So, when you ache, He’s not just watching; He’s empathising. But He doesn’t want you to stay there. Because withdrawing from risk guarantees greater pain: loneliness, insecurity, and the slow fading of your joy. You were never meant to live with secrets. They don’t protect you—they imprison you. In fact, we can become sick from the secrets we hide. The only cure is love. Not sentimental niceness—but divine love that sets you free. Scripture says, “Perfect love casts out fear.” That means the deeper God’s love sinks into your soul, the less room fear has to operate. And once you’re secure in His affection, you’ll stop living for approval and start loving with abandon.

Friends, our Father fully knows us and still fully loves us.  So tell Him you’re ready to risk again. Then reach out to someone safe. Say the honest thing. Share the real story. Because being fully known—and still fully loved—is exactly what God created you for.