Secret Intimacy

When I was in second grade I received my very first diary complete with a lock and key so all my secrets would be safely tucked inside where no one could see. Since my best friend has recently moved to Hawaii, I confided all my boy crushes and penned all my trouble-making antics at school.  Yes, I confessed all on those tear stained pages.

Perhaps you had a sister or a cousin who you drew close under a bedsheet tent and then giggled all night about childish cares. I hope you were lucky enough to have a mom or a grandma who patiently listened to you describe all your high school drama over a slice of warm banana bread and a large glass of syrupy sweet ice tea.

If you are missing this type of intimacy in your life, then let me reassure you…there is a sweet closeness that can be experienced between you and your God, your Savior Jesus Christ, and your teacher, the Holy Spirit.

Spending time with the Lord increases your emotional, spiritual, and physical health.

According to researchers from Baylor University “people who pray to a loving and protective God are less likely to experience anxiety-related disorders — worry, fear, self-consciousness, social anxiety and obsessive compulsive behavior — compared to people who pray but don’t really expect to receive any comfort or protection from God (Pedersen, 2018).”

When my best friend moved away to Hawaii, I longed for a sister or new best friend to laugh, play, and share my feelings with. I desired someone I could trust, who understood my needs, and cared enough to find out why I sometimes react to situations badly. I desperately needed to release my deepest hurts, but was fearful that my new friends might not accept me for who I truly am.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that one of the most popular television sitcoms was Cheers a Boston bar where everyone knows your name. Not only do we want people to recognize us by name when we enter the room, but we also desire to share our lives with others. 

Can God really be trusted with your secrets?

Have you ever considered that God may desire to be fully loved and known by you?

God created you so he already knows your deepest hurts, needs, and buried secrets.

He is trustworthy and will never betray your confidence. He is our Confidence.

Are you willing to share your heart fully with your Savior?

Or are you fearful because of shameful secrets?

How do you envision God?

Perhaps when you envision God, you feel secure like a toddler in his Daddy’s arms. But just maybe when you think of God, you are frightened out of your mind because you know you have sinned against Him.

 

Maybe you feel unworthy and are hiding your secrets from him like Adam and Eve.

Maybe you are angry like Job because you feel God has allowed something in your life that has hurt you deeply.

How do you fulfill your needs?

If you do not view God as a safety net, then what are you turning to instead? Are you seeking a marriage to fill this need for intimacy?

Do your co-workers provide for your emotional needs?

Some people may even find a hobby like running, fishing, or writing to meet these needs. 🙂

Deep Intimacy with God

If you have never discovered deep intimacy with God before now, there is hope.

Or perhaps you need to rekindle your relationship with your Savior.

God is still waiting for you to discover his perfect love.  You don’t have to strive to be perfect in order to grab God’s attention. And you shouldn’t feel like my Grandmother who was convinced that a lightning bolt might strike her dead if she dared to approach the throne of God.

We have joy and freedom in Christ. We can take a walk through our neighborhood and talk to God in much the same way that Adam and Eve experienced in the garden.  When we draw near to Him, he draws near to us.

Only God’s hand heals our wounds.  He is the Great Physician and our Wonderful Counselor.  He speaks truth into your soul and removes selfish desires. He already knows your name and won’t reject you.

Jesus touched the lepers with his hands and healed the forgotten. God knows our lives are riddled with mistakes, but He has made a way for us to be reconciled with him.

Jesus is standing right now outside the door of your heart and knocking. He calls out your name.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

Just like any relationship, real intimacy with God takes time to develop.  He doesn’t just want a one-night stand, but desires a committed relationship that lasts forever.

Your response:

Begin building emotional intimacy with God today. Take 5 minutes to talk with him.  Tell him your burdens, your needs, and your accomplishments. He desires to hear it all. Trust him to provide. Listen to his Son, Jesus.

May I pray for you?

Heavenly Father, you are justice and perfect love.

I thank you Lord for removing the heavy burdens that buckle my knees. Thank you for revealing to me that nothing is hidden, all things will come to light. May all my readers who hear your whispered word turn and proclaim your truth from the mountaintops. Lord you never forget your children and even know the number of hairs on our heads. As long as we acknowledge you before all, then the Son of Man will acknowledge us before the Angels of God. Thank you Lord for forgiving anyone who doubts your timing.

Holy Spirit, teach what we should say when we talk to our Heavenly Father. Give us restraint to wait and wisdom to listen. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Resources:

Pedersen, T. (2018). New Study Examines the Effects of Prayer on Mental Health. PsychCentral.

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