Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121: 1-2 (ESV)

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41: 10 (NKJV)         

Whether a trip to the grocery or somewhere else in town. Maybe a few phone calls during the day. 

And the game begins.   

Beginning with the question— “How are you doing?”

Followed by the answer— “I’m fine. Never better! Thanks for asking.”

Usually offered because the world expects us to have it all together, or everyone else is probably doing great, except us.

But, if the truth be told, we’re not fine. We’re not better. Instead, we are often somewhere between troubled, anxious, or uncertain approaching desperate and broken.

So, our response is way too often—untrue, a coverup, or an outright lie—while we continue to ache inside.

It’s a sad exchange too often in our life, and in the world around us. And it often leaves people right where they were.  Maybe even you and me.

And God knows it. 

Jesus was always with other people. He went around finding people where they were and took them where they ought to be—always to a better place.

If He found a person today sitting on the curb of a street, with outward appearances indicating they were down on their luck, He’d sit down next to them.

After a moment, instead of suggesting they go to church, my guess is, Jesus would take them for a pizza.  

He would know for that person, as He knows for us, that if the truth be told, all was not fine and well. 

And so, He was always meeting, loving, and lifting lives from beyond despair to hope. 

He did it when He healed the leper on the side of the road. Forgave and sent out to a better life the Samaritan women at the well. Saved a woman from being stoned and sent her off to live a better life. Brought Lazarus back to life. Helped the disciples find their way, then sent them out to touch the world for good.

And He calls us to be aware, and to do the same—with Him, for others. 

And with Him, for ourselves. 

It begins when we realize that there’s nothing in our life which He doesn’t already know. As He reaches down to lift us up and out of the difficulties, despair, and broken moments of our lives.

And we then reach up, follow Him, and allow and help Him to begin to place us on a path where the answer— “I’m fine. Never better!”—is the truth being told.

Matthew West sings a poignant song reminding us that Christ knows the truth of what’s going on in our lives and stands ready to help and lift us toward hope and all we can be, as he shares—

“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 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…”

“How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. Never better! Thanks for asking.”

Let the truth be told!

In His Name–Scott

Be lifted by this encouraging, aspirational video of “Truth be Told” by Matthew West.