Our Secrets Keep Us Sick

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Step Five

Take a moment to really think about it with an open mind. Is there something you may be holding inside in a secret chamber you may have locked up that is holding you back? It's so natural to not want anyone else to know our deep, dark secrets, but yet so harmful if we want to live a life of honesty.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins from ALL (that's right ALL) unrighteousness. ! John 1:8-9

Sometimes folks are reluctant to work the 12 Steps because they are fearful of what they will have to do like what is required in Step Five above. In fact, all of these Steps came out of a spiritual movement called the Oxford Group back in 1935 where the formation of A.A. began. Every Step comes from scripture, every Step is there to promote honesty, faith and truth.

Our secrets keep us sick is a saying we use in the rooms of our meetings because they cause isolation and actually form the seeds that grow within us to bear bad fruit. There are some secrets and sins about me that some folks have had a hard time dealing with, but God hasn't and those who really know me haven't held those against me either. So what's the problem with confessing?

Ask David or better yet, read 2 Samuel 12:1-10. David hid his sins even though he was described as a man after God's own heart. When confronted with an analogy he criticized the one who was wrong before the prophet Nathan pointed out it was him. As a result, Nathan told him "the sword will never depart from your house" and we know David's life got very rough for keeping his secrets to himself.

Only you and God know if that is you, but what I am certain of in my own life is that I would rather be real than the plastic man I was in addiction. And if I keep confessing when needed, and my soul is free of those secrets, then I am free to be me, the me God intended me to be, and I am free to be clean and sober.

​And the truth shall set you free!