Encouragement

Give Him The Real Picture

by Brandon Braddy
02/20/24
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1 Peter 5: 7 (Kjv)
John 1: 47 (Kjv)

   Years ago, there was a movie that seemed to be a hit. It was titled: Home Alone. And a scene, many should know it, happens around the time when the boy has realized his family left him, forgotten and alone, at their house while they are on vacation somewhere, hence, the title, Home Alone. And around that same time, he begins to express his reaction while pausing, looking into the mirror at himself, cuffing one hand over each side of his face, then yelling near the top of his lungs... AAAHHHHHHHH!!!! In contrast to this very comedic movie scene, I posted a picture on Facebook a few years ago (And if you truly know me, then you realize I do not mind laughing at myself, it does my soul good, and if I can help make someone else laugh to brighten their day a bit more, then mission accomplished). I took my head from a picture I had, and very carefully placed it onto the abnormally buffed up shirtless body of what appeared to be that of a 1,000 pound (give or take) weight-lifting man's figure, whose veins obviously looked like they were almost about to pop out, to be honest. His arms were enormous, and when I was finished, I looked pumped, very needless to say, with arms as big, if not bigger than the grand canyon. But no matter how funny it was at that time, the truth is this was a false reality, a picture showing what was not, though also displaying in part, what was. My face was there, but not the rest of me. Two different scenes, one from a movie, the other a picture, the first is probably how many people feel every day, or at least have at some point in time, both hands on face and wanting to yell. And the second scenario happened in real life, but much of it was not real at all. All of us probably know just how little or much information we need to give someone, while being honest with them, but all the while, how we are really doing behind the scenes remains a mystery to many. We wear a smile to cover over the hurt, while on the inside, we feel pain, and we dare not tell anyone the depths of what we are really going through, because if we do, our personal lives, the way it really is, will probably become gossip news for everyone to hear. We cannot tell everyone all we are feeling or facing in life, probably a good rule of thumb sometimes is: Less is better. And to me, it is sad that there are not many people we can go to and share what is on our hearts, and then not have to worry about it being discussed about to others. But the great news is, There is One. He already knows how much you carry on your shoulders, He wants to walk with you, with every one of us through the pain, the struggles, the heartaches, whatever it is. You and I can be completely real before Him, He loves us deeply, The Lord is on your side, you need not face what you go through alone, you do not have to pretend in front of Him. He is waiting there, for us to pour out our hearts, all that we are, and everything we face, at His feet. God so desires to take everything that is going on in your world and mine, to wrap His arms around every hurting soul, and whisper, It is okay, I have called you by name, You are mine, I am working all things for your good, I have loved you child, with an everlasting love, You do not walk alone, for I am with you always. So know that when we come before the presence of the Most High, we can tell Him anything at all, and He is faithful to keep it between us as individuals, and Himself, God is honest, trustworthy, and we do not have to pretend in front of Him, we do not have to perform more, or in a better way than yesterday. He loves us just as we are, And He is waiting for us, for our complete honesty, Not a false version of how things are, or how we think they should be, He does not want a very strange and muscular body with bulging arms, and my face on top, Instead He desires the real me, along with every detail of what I face in life, just as He does with you. Because He loves us, God desires us, and that means even in those times when we look into the mirror, and we place one hand on each side of our faces, and we begin to yell at the top of our lungs, even then God hears our yells, our desperate cries, our tears when they reach the ground. Do not hide any part of what you go through from Him. He wants to hear it all, though He already knows, and He has a purpose for the pain. Cast your cares upon Him, Give Him the real picture. Every raw detail. He can handle it.