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Hidden in Darkness

Diane Houghtaling - Columnist
Posted 11/12/20

It all began when I accidently knocked a plant off its hanger and it fell to the floor. Thankfully the plant was still pretty much intact and I was able to get it and most of the dirt back into the …

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Hidden in Darkness

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It all began when I accidently knocked a plant off its hanger and it fell to the floor. Thankfully the plant was still pretty much intact and I was able to get it and most of the dirt back into the pot fairly easily. But this meant I was going to have to vacuum up the rest of the dirt from the carpet, which had not been on my to-do list.

Lately I had begun to notice a lot of cobwebs hanging in corners and along the ceiling line. So I decided since I had to vacuum, I may as well tackle cobwebs first. Armed with my broom, I went from room to room sweeping down as many cobwebs as I could see and reach.

As I swept down the corner in my bedroom near the door, I noticed something. There was a build up of dog hair along the edges of the carpet. As I swept those edges, piles of dog hair were mounting. My dog sheds a lot, and her fur is the same tan color as the rug, so the build up of dog hair was hidden.

I finished with the broom and moved to the vacuum, which has a light to illuminate its path. That was when I saw all the cobwebs on things along the floor line and on the bottom rungs of a chair. I'd only focused on the ceiling cobwebs, so once again had to retrieve my broom.

As I went through this ordeal, a thought was forming in my mind. How often do we not see hidden sin in our hearts and lives, and I began to pray and ask the Lord to reveal any sin in my life that I hadn't noticed.

Just as I hadn't noticed the dog hair and cobwebs hidden in darkness along the floor edges, we may not see sin hidden in the dark recesses of our hearts. Are there any grudges, attitudes, unforgiveness or bitterness that needs to be confessed and swept out?

Sometimes sin in our lives may be obvious to others, in plain sight like my cobwebs hanging along the ceiling, but we tend to overlook or ignore them. Do we have bad habits, addictions, anger issues, or ways that we treat people that are not pleasing to the Lord? Others clearly see them and may even try to point them out to us, but are we in denial and refuse to see or deal with them?

Although I left overcrowded closets for another day, there are times I've stashed things away in my closets that are buried and forgotten. Have we buried things in our hearts that need to be brought out into the light and dealt with, things that come out in ways that we don't like?

Some may have experienced childhood trauma, or trauma at any age, that is buried and forgotten. These wounds of the soul can only be revealed and healed by a loving God who will gently lead us through the healing process.

God is all-seeing and all-knowing, and He can see deep into our hearts to expose things we don't even know are there. This may not be good news to those who are trying to hide their sin, but it is good news to those who desire to have clean hearts before the Lord. As we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us (I John 1:9).

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 482-5300.

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