Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. —Ephesians 4:25
Many people say that they want an “honest opinion,” but how many are actually prepared to accept it if the feedback is different from what they wanted? How many times do we hold in our feelings around our loved ones so we do not hurt them? When you’re facing difficult truths, it can be hard to offer true honesty. Knowing how to be kind is crucial to being honesty. Christ doesn’t condone hateful words, even if the one saying it is simply purporting to be telling the truth. When you are faced with a situation that requires a painful truth, ask Christ to guide your words. These truths can be about ourselves or about other people. When it’s an internal matter, we’re reluctant to admit that we’re in the wrong. It’s also hard to apologize sometimes, and many instances will expose us to disapproval or anger from another person. If the truths are centered on someone else, we often want to hold them back so the other person does not become upset. Honesty can be tough sometimes, but it’s also essential. Bottling up our true feelings is not beneficial to anyone. The longer we allow others to live under a guise of our emotions, the harder it is to explain the truth. Likewise, the more we cover for our own transgressions, the more comfortable it becomes to simply let it continue. Being honest is like removing a bandage. It may hurt briefly, but it opens up for healing and new growth. Today, pray for the strength to be honest with yourself and others. Offer the truth to your friends and family and acknowledge your own failures. True, Christ-like, unconditional love begins by caring enough to always share the truth.
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