The expression “the truth hurts” is frequently used to describe the adverse feelings that may surface when we are presented with challenging or upsetting information. We are all opposed to the truth; thus, it hurts. Falsehood and lies are in opposition to truth. But why does the truth hurt, and what can we do to cope with it more effectively?
Truth is the reality that disproves lies. The light of truth eliminates darkness. Truth is the tremendous purifying fire. Truth is a healer that has come to cancel illness, suffering, death, hell, and all its produce. Either in this life or the next, truth starts deep within the individual and spreads forth to fulfill its purpose of bringing about liberation. As stated in Proverbs 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but treacherous are the kisses of an enemy.”
Why Does the Truth Hurt
The truth hurts because it’s hard to accept that a situation is as true as it is. It hurts because even when we intuitively know the truth, we find it difficult to hear certain realities uttered to us. Other times, the truth hurts because it causes us to face unsettling realities about ourselves or others.
However, facing the truth is always worthwhile since it is the only thing that can truly free us. Don’t be scared of the truth; therefore, we should learn to embrace the truth always, take what we can from it, and use it to improve our lives. We start to make changes that will enhance our lives and relationships when we are truthful.
Even though it’s hard to hear or accept the truth, there are several techniques we may employ to deal with it properly. One method is mindfulness and embracing our feelings and emotions without bias. This can encourage us to embrace harsh truths with curiosity and openness rather than defending ourselves or resisting them. Another tactic is to ask for help from dependable family members or friends who can lend a sense of empathy and convey comfort and compassion.
What God Said About Telling the Truth in the Bible
God places a high value on truthfulness and integrity, which are seen as essential components of life that are devoted to him. The Psalmist characterizes someone who tells the truth from the heart as one whose conduct is pure and righteous (Psalm 15:2). Leviticus 19:11 forbids God’s people from lying to one another or giving false information about another. This resonated in the New Testament, where a believer’s new life in Christ is connected to sincerity and honesty. An individual’s dedication to truthfulness is one of the first signs that they have set aside their old selves and are putting on a new image in Christ.
Truthfulness is a virtue because, like all virtues, it originates from God’s image. For the integrity of truth is rooted in God’s image, we are to be true because God is truthful. Titus 1:2 tells us that God does not lie and that the truth is Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Because God is truth and we are called to emulate him, telling the truth is a moral standard of His that should be upheld.
In the Ten Commandments, God reprimands us constantly to tell the truth. It is a biblical norm that we should uphold. When we say the truth, justice is observed but lies lead to inequity.
Exodus 20:16 reads, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,” and Leviticus 19:11 also reads, “You shall not lie to one another,” Proverbs 12:19 says truthful lips endure forever. Still, a lying tongue lasts only a moment”. In other words, speaking the truth will always benefit us in the long run.
The Need for Truth in Christianity
A lying tongue is only for a while, but truthful lips will last forever (Proverbs 12:19). Because we are a part of one body and new beings in Christ, Christians are responsible for telling the truth.
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It Enables Intimacy With God
The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who conduct themselves truthfully. Emunah, the Hebrew word for faithfulness, is defined as “firmness and steadfastness.” In other words, we find joy with God through learning to tell the truth boldly and consistently. The Bible is the ultimate authority for truth.
The word of God has been the most truthful judgment throughout history. When Jesus said, “He is the way, the truth, and the life,” He not only emphasized the value of truth, but He also personified it. We must grow to become like our Father by studying His word. This will help us grow in truth and become more appealing to God. However, Remember, there will come a judgment day when everyone will give an account for every desertion from the truth, including believers and non-believers.
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It Bring Us to Have Personal Integrity
A perverted mind makes it impossible to maintain personal honesty. The wise are going to speculate about what is righteous as well as communicate the truth. This is the mark of a seasoned believer: a pattern of rational thinking that has developed the way they think through persistently and consistently restraining sinful ideas and intentions. A true believer’s biblical theology serves to notify them of the reality of their inward flawed nature. Therefore, true Christians develop mental discipline and understanding and they still have an imperfect nature even though Jesus Christ is sanctifying them, not to appease but to mortify it.
Why Do We Need to Accept the Truth?
To bring about meaningful change in our life, acceptance of reality is necessary. Suppressing the truth often turns suffering into sorrow. Accepting the truth helps us recognize the validity of the circumstance so that we may decide how to react with knowledge.
Recognizing the things we cannot control is another aspect of accepting reality. We can move past unpleasant situations and become stronger when we acknowledge that some things are out of our control. Acceptance essentially implies being content with who you are and your origins. It involves discovering how to accept and love yourself entirely without judgment or expectations. Then and only then can you fully get the affection of others.
Conclusion
Truth-telling is a moral rule that should be upheld since God is truth, and we desire a strong relationship with Him. Being truthful is the only way to get near to the truth (God). Therefore, In God’s law, He is identified as the Truth, and He commands us always to tell the truth. Deception and lies denies our fundamental humanity, making us less than who God created us to be, harming ourselves and others, and violating God’s commandments for us, which are regarded as descriptive of how we were meant to relate to him and one another.
It is also crucial to keep in mind that while hearing the truth might hurt, doing so is necessary for our development both personally and interpersonally. We can develop more robust, more genuine connections and a greater sense of self-awareness by acknowledging the truth and learning to comprehend better and manage it. Thus, while the truth may hurt, it can also result in healing and growth.
