Deeply Rooted Lies

Wearing glasses for the first time, I walked down the hallway of my school. I wondered what people would think and was terrified of what they might say. Cliché phrases were floating around in my head, taunting me. A boy I liked looked at me and said “So when are you going to get contacts?” For my junior high self, these words demolished the way I viewed myself in glasses. The word UGLY immediately appeared tattooed on my forehead. I went home that day and told my mom I NEEDED contacts.

Over a decade later those words still ring in my ears.  The wound is fresh in my heart. I don't wear my glasses unless I HAVE to and when I do my UGLY tattoo resurfaces.

I never realized this was silly. It was rooted deep in my self perception. Those words were wrapped around my heart and mind so tightly I believed it to be true. My husband noticed my glasses insecurity when we were dating. He dug deep and asked me hard questions. He sweetly encouraged me and told me he thought I was beautiful in my glasses. Ashamedly I admit I did not believe him.  

Recently my insecurity reappeared when I needed new glasses. My new glasses came in and I prayed they would look okay. As I headed to church the insecurity of my junior high self rushed back. The taunting voice reemerged. My husband hugged me tightly and told me how beautiful I looked. I still wasn’t sure. I felt self-conscious. It returned the next day when I went to work. Will they like them? I wondered. No matter how many times I heard how great they looked my self-consciousness and insecurity grew.

I finally wondered…What is wrong with me? Why did words spoken more than a decade ago still hold so much weight? I began to dig into my heart. And the UGLY truth came out.  

I realized my wounded heart rejected God’s Word. I chose to walk in insecurity and self-scrutiny. The wound never healed because I continued to believe it. And sin was exposed in my heart. I thought I walked in truth, never realizing I lived in a lie. I recognized that I doubted Psalm 139:14 “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well” and  altered it with “except when I wear my glasses.” I lived in the lie so long I didn’t know what was true.

I wonder, how often lies are allowed to fester in our hearts and minds? Do we perceive our rejection of God's Word? How do we deal with deeply rooted lies? God's Word gives a clear answer:

Recognize the battle going on. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “be of sober spirit, be on alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Remember the war is not a fleshly war. 2 Corinthians 10:3, tells us “ though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.” Ephesians 6:12 reminds us “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Stand firm against the enemy. Ephesians 6:11,13 reminds us to stand firm “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” &; “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

Take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Run to Jesus and His Word to replace the lies. Romans 12:2 tells us “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Only Jesus and His Word hold the power to transform our minds, hearts, and lives. We cannot transform ourselves, He must do it!

The battle is real. I know it well. Are lies rooted deep in your heart?  I encourage you to dig deep and deal with them. Stop permitting them to grow and fester. They do not belong in your heart. I know it’s messy and it hurts. Seek Jesus, He is faithful to overcome. He is bigger and greater and stronger than any deeply rooted lie.

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