Bring Everything In The Light

I have several things going through my mind today. It was brought to my attention on Monday that I needed to bring a few things into the light. I have been struggling with a few issues in my marriage and didn't know how to manage what was going on in my head. And I talked to a friend on Monday and she listened to me and said some amazing words. That sometimes we can just give things to God and He can help us with them but there is a point when we need to seek counsel with someone else. I knew all of that but to hear it that day made me see I was to the point of not being able to handle it on my own because the enemy was having a hay day with my thoughts.
I kept asking myself "What is wrong with me? Why can't I do this right?" I know the right thing to do and how to submit but my heart is not allowing that to happen. So I made a phone call that afternoon to some friends and asked if I could speak to them along with my husband and get everything out in the open. And that's exactly what we did. I expressed what was going on in me and was able to talk through so much. Did it take everything away? No. But putting it in the light allowed me to deal with the feelings and emotions that were swirling around inside of me. And my husband was able to hear my heart with the help of friends that could hear both sides. It's not that they took my side in everything but I want to be held accountable for what I'm doing wrong in all situations. It's not about my husband but about me and making sure I stay on the right path.
I even had another friend call me that afternoon and tell me that she had words for me. I could tell by her voice I didn't want to hear them. And once she was finished I was right. I was instantly ticked off! Why am I the one that always seems to need to work on me? Why doesn't my husband have to work on anything? And I just straight out told her I was ticked off. Not at her....but still upset at what God needed me to hear. But I thanked her because honestly if I looked the other way with what God wants me to know when I'm straying then I am disrespecting God and pushing Him away and I'm pushing myself away at the same time.
We all need to confront our struggles. Even if it means we look at ourselves in the mirror in a way we would rather not do. It's hard to take a good hard look at ourselves. It is much easier to continue down certain paths and "feel" like we are okay. Because eventually it's going to kick us in the rear end.
That's why I give all of my friends free reign to approach me and let me know if they see something I don't see because I may just get used to living a certain way. Or I've adjusted to how the world views certain things. I may not like what they tell me, but that's part of being real and finding out how to be the true self God created me to be.
So if you are struggling with something and can't seem to get a grip on it by yourself...seek out someone that will give you Godly counsel. Someone you can trust that will not spread gossip or give you the wrong advice. And please do not search for someone that you know will agree with you. That defeats the whole purpose of healing. I've watched people go from person to person trying to find the one that will tell them what they are doing is right. And then I watch them circle that same mountain once again. It's so sad. And I want to make sure that I don't circle any mountains more than I need to. It's not a perfect journey all the time, but with God's help and righteous friends, it makes the journey more enjoyable and safe.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5-6 (NIV)