The Path Set Before Us

Human stories have challenging chapters. We all have hard stories to tell. Though all of our situations are unique, believers share one hope in common when we choose to follow Jesus. Ephesians 4:4 It’s that all of our hard does have a point. It does have significance and meaning if we take hold of it. Hebrews 6:18

As we lean into learning the “whats” God has for us, we will come to what seems like a fork in the road. The world and the enemy of our souls will try to tell us we have to choose one path between two fundamental realities. 

It’s the lie that we must choose between honor and honesty.  

The entire time I’ve been writing, there has been the temptation not to be completely honest. To shine a more favorable light on things for the sake of my definition of “honor.” But God has made clear that there is only one path.

To write the story that gives Him the glory He so rightly deserves. Revelation 4:11

Honor is the value or esteem you place on someone or something. In comparison, honesty is simply telling the truth. Honor affirms the worth or dignity of the people we interact with, and honesty keeps our hearts and minds from being divided and protects boundaries. James 1:8

If I were sitting down with you right now, we’d probably both quickly conclude that life is a messy mixture of times when we compromise one for the other. So, for example, we may not get honor right because we leave out the truth of our motivation or we tell the truth but not in a respectful way. 

We can heap honor on people or a situation at the expense of what we really think – aka flattery. Or we can be so honest that we don’t care about how that honesty impacts others, and we lose sight of people’s dignity and worth. That’s disrespect or dishonor. There will be a time down, deep in our gut, when we realize, “I didn’t think that, but I said it anyway.” So we say things that aren’t genuine. And whether we acknowledge it or not, we are affected by the way other people perceive us and we give in to that pressure. Psalm 12:2  

That fear of disconnection – shame – in a relationship can fuel dishonesty because we fear loss.

Which will it be? We feel immense pressure to pick one or the other. But, of course, they can co-exist and it’s the path that the Lord calls us to. It’s a path that lies straight ahead without swerving into either ditch. The road ahead for the believer must be paved with honor and honesty.

It’s so messy. I know. Yes, it’s tough but we have God’s promise to finish the work He started in us. Philippians 1:6

There is only One person in human history who got it right 100% of the time. He never devalued anyone, and He never lied. 

Jesus is the only example that combines the perfect amount of honor, i.e., respect and value for others, without compromising the truth. Jesus, who came to dwell with us in grace and truth in order to help us walk in that way with others for our common good and His glory. John 1:14

Thank you Jesus that you didn’t leave us to navigate alone.