So, I gotta be honest. This phrase drives me bonkers.
Like, legitimately might be my biggest pet peeve with people these days.
“Living my truth” seems to be the kool kid phrase of our culture right now. When celebrities/public figures/people with influence are asked questions in interviews about an.y.thing. that could have a moral standard attached to it, they typically respond with something along the lines of, “Well, I just think it’s really important for us to find our truth and live that out. Ya know, just, living in your own truth can bring you so much happiness and freedom.”
Yes, Anna. Stop that. Stop that right now.
Although, she’s probably said it too…sigh…
ANYWAYS. Back to my rant.
My issue with this whole “find your truth and live it thing” is that we can’t ALL decide what truth is. I don’t get to decide the 100% actuality of a thing.
And I think my biggest hangup with the whole dang thang is that we pick and choose what we want to be true in order to serve our own selfish desires and fleeting pleasures.
If I decide that the truest truth is that Mexican food is the truest form of good food and that you are a demon-spawn if you don’t like it, and you disagree with me, who is right? Does your inability to realize truth in its highest form (my truth, that is) remove your rights/value/dignity as a human?
(I mean, in this case probably because Mexican food is delicious)
NO. Absolutely not.
Because guess what…that isn’t truth. It isn’t an indisputable fact.
Chinese food is good.
Pizza is good.
Queso is…wait….queso is Mexican. Never mind.
My point is, I cannot be the final decision maker when it comes to truth. Nor do I WANT to be the final decision maker. I feel like we are all so inadequate at deciding ANYTHING, especially what truth is. Mainly because we are all so fickle and selfish and just…well…ill equipped.
We were made by the only arbiter of truth, and that is God Himself.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things (including truth) were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing (including truth) made that was made.
John 1:1-3
If we submit to God as the Creator of all that we see and know, we have to submit to Him as the Creator of truth as well.
We don’t get to only submit to parts of God’s commands and character. His Word was not given as a mere suggestion on how to live your best life now.
No. His Word was/is given as the truest form of truth we can know. Jesus was given as the complete embodiment of Truth – so that we might have a Savior from our sinful ways and an Example of how to submit to the One whose truth gives life and freedom.
Submission to God and His actual truth does not lay heavy bondage on my life.
Living in a world (even if it’s my own world in my head) where I get to choose truth and it changes all of the time — that is what causes bondage, and anxiety, and heartbreak, and disillusionment, and, well, a lost and weary soul.
Submission to God, instead, frees us up to rest in knowing His truth will lead to life everlasting, it never changes, and that it is for my good and His glory. Living in God’s truth frees me from living a lie of working my way into His grace.
I’d rather live in the truth of the Creator who has been faithful throughout history than try to figure out my own truth every morning.
Man. What a friggin burden to bear. I’ll let Someone else tell me what truth is.
It just seems easier — more life-giving — that way.
Kayla Smith 