You may be familiar with the game “Two Truths and A Lie.”  It’s a familiar icebreaker where participants tell two facts and one falsehood about themselves. The game allows members of a group to get to know each other with a few laughs along the way.

I don’t do well with this game.

I struggle with coming up with a lie that sounds plausible. I’ve even gotten confused when it was time to reveal my untruth, because that’s the thing about lies: They are tailored to take us away from reality.

Unfortunately, from society’s point of view, deception is trending. We live in a world of fake news, photo-shopped pictures, alternative facts and media bias.

Truth is becoming a rare commodity; but it remains essential to godly character (See Psalms 15:1 and 2).

As I scanned through my social media feed a few weeks ago, this quote grabbed my attention.

“Humans are addicted to self-deception, when confronted with truth; they feel uncomfortable and return to the closest lie that comforts them.”- Chris Holman

How comfortable are you with the truth?  I searched inwardly to see if these words exposed my heart. It’s an ongoing examination. The enemy of our soul wants us addicted to deceit. It doesn’t matter if the source of our trickery is our discomfort or our delight.

But our comfort zone can vary. And what delights us one day, may bring disdain the next because feelings change. However, truth never does.

“Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.” – Proverbs 12:19 NLT

Unlike the icebreaker game, having our lies exposed rarely happens on our terms. And yet, God welcomes our struggles when we come with a repentant heart. Through prayer, I’ve pressed through pain and pride and received His forgiveness and healing.

I’m learning to see discomfort as a merciful window. It allows me to see what is out-of-order or out of my control. But if I don’t bring my discomfort to God, deceit creates a desire to conceal.

I conceal my true feelings about a matter.

Deny the true consequences of my actions; or

Resist the notion that my flaws affect those around me.

However, when my next step is to be truthful, I need to hold on to it for dear life.

“Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.” – Proverbs 23:23

Truth can be sold to buy the approval of others, for a warm blanket of denial or to take a shortcut to success. But there’s no bargain in this transaction, only defeat.

Thankfully, Proverbs 23:23 also offers a reward: Wisdom, discipline and good judgment are the results of truthful living. They each remind us God’s grace is not for hiding, it’s for living His truth out loud — victoriously.

As I check the volume of His truth in me, I’m asking Him to show me where it’s muffled or muted. The alarms go off when I begin to feel unworthy or unloved.

My biggest Truth discovery was the day I placed my faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:1-6). Then this sinner saved by grace became a servant committed to His glory.  My commitment is tested but His grace sustains with hope for the heart and joy to the soul.

“The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18 NLT