The Power of Secrets
How faith can replace guilt and shame with grace and joy
The secrets that you hide have enormous power in your life. How many addictive or compulsive behaviors have been hidden or covered up?
And when you took the step to admit the exact nature of your addiction, did you notice the way the addiction lost power over you? The power of secrets and hidden behaviors can work for you as well as against you.
Published
04/04/2022
Category
Faith
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11
The psalmist wrote this prayer to God: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). If you “hide God’s Word in your heart” by memorizing and meditating on it, you’ll find new power to keep your heart and mind clean.
The power of secrets will also work to your advantage in your prayer life. Jesus taught us that “when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). When we begin to spend time shut away with God in prayer and meditation, we’ll find that power working for us.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6
Sometimes your secrets might be too difficult to share because they bring shame on you or others that you care about. This shame often holds you in a perpetual place of needing relief. You’ll feel the need for relief from the torment and shame of your addiction. This will cause you to lose hope or believe that you don’t deserve better; better friends, partner, job, etc. But it’s a lie. It’s a deception that lowers your expectations of yourself and those around you.
You use or drink because you trick yourself into believing yet another lie. You believe that you have somehow found reprieve. It started out as a temporary band-aid but over time became a noose around your neck. Guilt and shame regarding your addiction can seriously impair your view of yourself. They can cause you to subconsciously attach your addiction to your identity over time. This is especially true if your addiction is kept hidden for a long time.
Let’s distinguish shame from guilt, though. Guilt is the feeling of “I’ve done something wrong.” Shame is the feeling of “There’s something wrong with me.” Guilt should goad us into confession, reconciliation, and hope in doing better next time. Shame often causes us to feel of less value than what we truly deserve. You’ll hide your actions, character, and heart from others. This only fuels the disconnect, longing, and self-hatred that often underlies your triggers.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2
Paul actively writes against this notion in arguably one of the riches chapters in the entire bible: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). Your identity is not “addict” but “cherished son or daughter of God.” The more you store this truth up in your heart and mind, the more ammo you’ll have at your disposal. You’ll become more and more capable of fighting your triggers and the need to numb the pain.
What stops you from reaching out and asking for help? Could it be the risk of being rejected, humiliated, or shamed even further? There’s real wisdom in not just blindly trusting. Jesus also shared that we should not throw our pearls to pigs. (Matthew 7:6.) This is a great visual of not giving valuable, intimate information to those who would use it against you.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6
Maybe this is one of the reasons Jesus encouraged his friends and loved ones to pray in private. Maybe this is why King David cried out to God in one of his darkest hours, “I’ve hidden your word inside my heart.” The bible teaches us that there is wisdom in proceeding with caution when sharing the matters of our heart. But it doesn’t say that you should never trust anyone, especially God. So trust God today, everyday. Empty your heart of the hurt you hold inside and fill it up with him. It’s all he wants from you. It’s all he ever wanted for you.
Conclusion
Key takeaways
- “Hiding God’s word in your heart” can replace the negative thoughts currently in your head
- Praying alone is a practical way to reorient your heart and mind on what’s good and healthy
- Keeping our addiction and other secrets hidden can perpetuate your need to numb the pain
- That need to numb started out as quick reprieve but quickly grew into what eats you up inside
- Guilt and shame cause you to wrongfully attach your addiction to who you are at your core
- Your true identity is defined by God, not your addiction
Challenge
Apply to your life
Spend 30 minutes this week reading Romans 8. Pray and meditate on the chapter. Read, pray, and meditate on it with the focus on seeing yourself as how God sees you.
Conclusion
Key takeaways
- Avoid sugar and stay hydrated
- Choose slow-release energy foods to help maintain your sugar levels
- Don’t mistake symptoms of dehydration for that of chemical craving
- Don’t skip meals and eat healthy proteins and fats
- Choose fresh foods over processed foods
Challenge
Apply to your life
Keep a refillable water bottle with you wherever you go. Whenever that old craving pops up in your head, take a sip. Retrain your brain to want what it really needs! Also, make sure you’re near a bathroom most of the time. You’ll probably need to pee a lot.
A Recovery Community Center in Chesterton, Indiana.
This location is also the studio and homebase for content creation on Artistic Recovery. The team of professionals at Three20 conceive, draft, and edit many of the articles you find here. These recovery resources are a collaboration between certified recovery coaches, creative writers, fitness trainers, artists, musicians, and chefs. Most importantly, our content is written for people in recovery, by people in recovery.
Mitkam Day
Mitkam Day writes to inspire others to pursue their own journey in discovering the biblical solutions for sustaining recovery. Mitkam is an entrepreneur who founded a successful multi-county substance abuse agency and recovery program. She has dedicated the last 20 years of her professional career teaching others how to implement the original 12-Steps biblical applications.
Credit where credit is due
Portions of this blog were published in the Life Recovery Bible © 1998, 2017 by Tyndale House Publishing. Notes and Bible helps copyright © 1998, 2017 by Stephen Arterburn, Founder of New Life Ministries and David Stoop, Founder Center for Family Therapy.
