Daily Delight
When I was in the awkward, preteen stage, I remember my mom asking me to smile more. She claimed that the people around me probably thought I was mad because I didn’t smile. The truth is that I was painfully shy, and being around people I didn’t know made me very nervous.
Since then, I learned a lesson of the importance of matching your inside with your outside. I was the one who wore her heart on her sleeve, but as time went on and challenges came my way, I learned to portray a façade of confidence as I interacted with people.
The words above from 1 John are teaching me the beauty of what my heart looks like: the One who is in me is greater than the One who is in the world. Jesus reigns in my heart, and the grace He gave to me when He died on the cross is the same grace I need to extend to others. Hiding my heart is the same as trying to keep Jesus a secret. He came to not only set us free but give us the chance to shine His light for all (Luke 8:16). It has taken many years of hiding who I really am in the hopes I won’t be shamed, broken, or hurt by meaningful people with unfeeling words to learn to trust. It is like setting a butterfly free for the first time. The wings need to expand and dry before they take their maiden voyage. Our hearts need to grow and embrace the gift of God before we set our deepest secrets free.
Jesus is the guard of our hearts (Phil. 4:7). He takes the most precious pieces of who we are and infuses them with love, strength, courage, hope, and a true sense of identity. When the world announces its greatness, we need only look inside ourselves to remember that Jesus is greater. The truth of who we are is made better by knowing Jesus. The light we choose to share is brighter when we expose it to the deep love of God.
