One of my favorite songs is, “Truth be told” by Matthew West. The lyrics pierce my emotions and occupy my thoughts. As these thoughts linger, I marinate on why they stay around longer than more positive and uplifting thoughts?
The first measures of the song are:
“Lie number one, you’re supposed to have it all together
And when they ask how you’re doing
Just smile and tell them, “Never better”
Lie number two, everybody’s life is perfect except yours
So keep your messes and your wounds
And your secrets safe with you behind closed doors”
I believe that we have come to take refuge in the myth of optimism and excellence in every circumstance, as no one seems curious about our thoughts or interested in investing time to uplift us.
When we feel mistreated or disregarded, we quickly assume the worst and give someone more deserving of our worries the benefit of the doubt. Here’s a poem I wrote about feeling ignored and hoping for the lens of grace:
“Our minds begin to scream, wait, come back, I’m not sure you heard what I said. I think you might have misunderstood, and I would like a chance to explain. It’s okay that you don’t have time. I perfectly understand; you’re always too busy to take the time anyway. Is it that I am invisible to you or so insignificant you can’t tame the time? This is how I feel when you run away before I can finish what I was going to say.
Jesus doesn’t see me the way you do. He takes time for me even when I feel unworthy, and He makes my dreams come true. I wish you could take the time to know me face-to-face as if looking at me through His lens of Grace.
You don’t even take the time to say goodbye, just leave without acknowledging me, before I start to cry, The feelings are too much for you to bare, and you leave without showing an ounce of care.
With Jesus, I never want to leave the safety of His arms, this is where I feel most safe. He found me when I was lost, He dies for me, He carried my cross. So here is where I will eternally gaze.
Wouldn’t it be great if we all looked at each other through His lens of grace? If even for a moment, to make someone feel loved and cared for in this time and place. He sees me as worthy because He has chosen me. He knows my fears and hears me as I run my race. He paid the price, with His sacrifice and sees me through His lens of Grace.” – Amanda Newton
The chorus (Let the Truth be Told):
“But truth be told
The truth is rarely told, now
I say, “I’m fine, yeah, I’m fine, oh, I’m fine, hey, I’m fine”, but I’m not
I’m broken
And when it’s out of control I say, “It’s under control”, but it’s not
And you know it
I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it
When being honest is the only way to fix it
There’s no failure, no fall
There’s no sin You don’t already know
So let the truth be told”
The hole does not seem more prominent or more frightening when you are in it. The dark doesn’t get any darker. In fact, your eyes begin to adjust to the lack of light, which provides a breeding ground for negative and hopeless thoughts.
We ought to extend grace to everyone. Act sincere. Stay in the moment. Be genuine. It is only right that we should want to know the truth about the people we care about. Be fearless and impartial to let the truth be told.
When God's plan isn't obvious 