Admit the Truth and Be Set Free
By Rick Warren
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NIV)
Most of us don’t like the truth about ourselves. We love pointing out others' flaws, but when it comes to our own, we avoid the truth, deny it, and fake it. Yet the truth, while painful at first, is what brings freedom and healing.
Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32 NIV).
But how can we be truthful, especially about ourselves? Humility is the key. James says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 NLT).
God’s grace gives you the power to change, but to fully receive God’s grace, you need to admit to four truths about yourself.
First, admit that you are broken. We’re all broken, and we live in a broken world where nothing works perfectly—not the economy, relationships, or even ourselves. We’ve been broken by sins we’ve committed, sins done to us, bad choices, and painful circumstances. Admitting this takes humility, but it’s the first step toward freedom and healing.
Second, admit that your secrets make you sick. David said in Psalm 32, “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away. . . . My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat” (Psalm 32:3-4 NLT). Secrets drain your energy, worsen your problems, and keep you stuck. Hiding never works—it only intensifies your hurts, fears, and sins.
Third, admit your specific sins. Proverbs 28:13 says, “You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you” (GNT). Change starts with honesty. You can’t fix what you won’t face.
Finally, admit that pride and fear keep you stuck. Like Adam in the garden, we hide and pretend because we’re afraid of being exposed. Pride says, “I don’t want anyone to know my weaknesses,” and fear whispers, “What if they do?” This cycle keeps us from growing, healing, and becoming who we’re meant to be.
Here’s the truth: Just because your “rottenness” doesn’t stink doesn’t mean it’s not there. We’re all broken. So stop faking it and start facing it.
When you humbly admit that you don’t have it all together, you open the door to God’s grace, healing, and transformation.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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