The writer of Hebrews explained brutal honesty perfectly when he said, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:13 NLT.
When we are brutally honest with ourselves we are stripped bare: naked and exposed. It is uncomfortable, embarrassing, traumatizing, shameful.
But isn’t that what God had in mind when He created mankind? Before the fall, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed as they stood before God. But when they chose to disobey God, the first thing they experienced was shame, “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Genesis 3:7.
When God came looking for them, they didn’t stand before God, they hid from God. They were trying to hide their sin and shame by sowing fig leaves together, which was woefully insufficient. They couldn’t do anything in their own power to cover their sin, so they tried to hide (it).
But God…
He did something amazing; He lovingly brought them out of hiding, and shed blood to make a covering for their shame.
“And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.” Genesis 3:21
He did the same for you and me. He sent His Son, Jesus, to be the ultimate sacrifice by shedding of His blood to cover our sin and shame. This way, we don’t need to continue in our shame, we just need to turn away from it and see the covering of our Savior.
“God, You are so awesome and loving that You loved us so much that You made a way to cover our shame through the shedding of the blood of Jesus! Help me to not live in hiding, but expose any sin I am trying to conceal or even have hidden from myself. Holy Spirit, I ask for grace and fortitude in addressing these sins. I want to stand before you naked and unashamed. Only by Your grace and mercy can I do that. Thank You, Lord, for making a way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”