Dinner With JesusUzorak

This Bible verse is often used as a way to convince ourselves or others that we can’t trust our emotions. But what if there was more to what Jeremiah was saying than just our heart is “bad”? When you look at the word used here for “deceitful,” it implies something more like “slippery” or “sly.” So, how is that different? It means our hearts can be complicated. We aren’t all bad, we aren’t evil, but we can be masters at deceiving ourselves and what is best for us. That is what this verse is getting at. Our ego is always going to look for a way to let ourselves off the hook, keeping us from taking responsibility or being self-aware. That doesn’t mean that is the core of who we are, or that it’s impossible to trust ourselves in any capacity. Rather, this verse should be a reminder that it’s possible to hide from ourselves or deceive ourselves. Part of growing in faith is becoming aware of the parts of us we’d rather keep hidden and out of view. Instead, we need to bring those things to light—because Jesus accepts all of who we are.