Am I able to be authentic?

Did you ever hear the children’s song that goes:

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine…

The beautiful thing about watching kids sing that song is that in most cases they don’t care whether they’ve got the tune right, the words right or even the rhythm right. They’re just happy to be singing something that is true - they have a light and they are going to let it shine.

You are a light and you’re asked to walk as a child of light (Ephesians 5:8-14). The word ‘child’ tells us that losing your inhibitions and not thinking too deeply about how you come across are a part of mature Christian living. Nerves, uncertainties and insecurities that arise in dating can often rob us of that child-like freedom, but thank God for the Word that brings us back to the truth.

Over the course of your relationship there will be moments that bring joy - respond joyfully. There will be moments that you find challenging; face these head-on and be honest about things that have made you angry or caused complaints to bubble up from your heart.

The Bible says that we should confess our faults one to another so that we can be supported in prayer (James 5:16). Being authentic is not just about embracing your quirks, it’s also about acknowledging where your weaknesses are and committing them to the process of transformation through Jesus Christ.

Friend, be free and be authentic. You are loved and worthy of more love.

Let’s pray. . . Thank you for placing your light in me and enabling me to shine that light to those around me. Help me not to hide your light through comparison and insecurity. Whenever I notice that there’s a part of me that needs to conform, help me to bring it to you in prayer, in Jesus’ name. Amen.