“As much as we thirst for approval we dread condemnation.” -Hans Selye

God has really put it on my heart to write on the subject of honesty.

While witnessing to several people over this past month, I noticed that the majority of them seemed to share the same feelings of unworthiness and regret.

Worse however, they all seem to be in the same season of denial in regards to their situations.

In one way or another, each person had expressed to me that they were feeling lost. That they could not seem to find one glimmer of hope. Absent of faith and out of patience.

Immediately a familiar song, “Painting The Roses Red” , from Lewis Carroll’s Alice and Wonderland popped into my head.

(Click the link above to view lyrics)

Many people claim to be living a happy life, but in actuality they are only hiding behind the walls of what they believe happiness should look like to others.

If we are living only on the outside, but dying on the inside, that kind of suffering can only remain undetected for so long.

When we try to paint our hearts red (full of love, God, goodness and purpose) but can’t even feel them beating in our chests, we set ourselves up for inevitable damage.

When our lives become more like lies then we need to be aware that God eventually will expect us to reveal our true colors.

If we do not get honest with ourselves and others willingly, God will most definitely allow circumstances in our lives to do it for us.

“The white rose is the symbol of purity and innocence. However, if everyone were to be a white rose, none would truly be white. We grow, we make mistakes, and who doesn’t bleed nor have a scar? Painting the roses red is our cycle of life in all it’s mystery.
Everyday of life is another day towards deaths arms…Are you living or dying?
Reality: Life is the ONLY most contradicting phenomena ever.
How good of a painter are you?”- Philosophy by MKR

James 4:6 – God shows favor to the humble and oppressed

The reason our faith grows grey and our hearts lose their beat is not because God has forgotten about us or because we are not useful to Him any longer.

Faith fades when we suffocate our spirit and live to serve our flesh.

If we lose hope in God then that means we have put too much of it in the world.

We cannot be two shades of ourselves in this life. If we are on fire for God and trust in His plans for us, the embers of that fire should burn brightly for the world to see!

If we refuse to be the color God needs us to be in a black and white world, we cannot be surprised when we are left feeling dull, inadequate, or bored while others beautifully color the pages.

“The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw.” -Havelock Ellis

God knows your heart, your desires, and your priorities.

He created us all with beautiful flaws, each of us a unique shade of who He is, and collectively we are breathtaking by His design.

“Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns.” -Tehyi Hsieh

If your heart is hurting, don’t paint a coat of denial over it thinking nobody will notice.

God knows what is underneath.

Be sure you remain true to what’s right; remain true to the truth.

Short cuts to happiness will only leave you with short term happiness.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Maryanne Williamson

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)