Lead me in your truth, and teach me: for you are the God of my salvation… Psalm 25:5

Truth has almost been redefined. We say, “Well the real truth is…” Is there an unreal or false truth? That would be considered an oxymoron. We also say, “That’s his truth” or “that’s my truth.” The truth of the matter is, it is not his truth nor is it my truth – it is “his story” and it is “my story.” There is a vast difference between what is true, and the story we tell ourselves, and the story we tell to others. However, we have convinced ourselves that the story we have been telling over and over again is the truth.  Unfortunately, our story consistently gets in the way of the truth.

We label our stories as truths and we believe them. We have justified our ways with our stories. In some instances, we add in some religion to our stories to really convince ourselves that we are right. We even run from ourselves – surrounding ourselves with empty noise, meaningless relationships and associations, so that there is no moment of solitude for the truth to sneak up on us. Selah.

Sometimes we cannot hear the truth because we are not ready, but most times, it is because we do not want to hear the truth. We do not want our story interrupted, because our story allows us to remain in that familiar place where we can continue the story. Most people say tell me the truth, but what they really mean is tell me what I want to hear or agree with me.

After the Prophet Nathan had confronted David about his sins against Uriah and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1-9), David cried out to God in repentance in Psalm 51:1-19. Verse 6 reads, “You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part (of my heart), You will make me know wisdom.” David concluded that God wants us to know the truth, not only about Him, but about ourselves. He wants our hearts to be wise so that we can discern and judge our own actions. Did not David know that he had committed adultery when he slept with Uriah’s wife? (2 Samuel 11) Did not David know that he had committed premeditated murder when he had Uriah murdered? Did not David know that he was breaking the laws of God when he did those things? Of course he did. Then why did God have to send a Prophet to David before he acknowledged his sin? And, why did David not discern that the Prophet was speaking of his sins. David had done just like we do – he had convinced himself that he had made everything right. He was walking around living the story that he had told himself, until God interrupted his story with the truth.

Yes, the truth is sometimes hard to bear, but it has so many wonderful benefits. Jesus told us in John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” If you really want to be free, open yourself up to hearing truth regardless if it is difficult to hear, and regardless if it rips your story to shreds. Just like David, once we let go of our stories, God can come in and “restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalm 51:12