Have you ever lied to get yourself out of trouble? Or maybe hidden parts of your life because you were afraid of what others might think? I have

There were seasons in my life where fear and anxiety caused me to hide things from others, from myself, and even from God.

One example was when I was living with dear friends who had helped me tremendously while I was working at a daycare. During that time, I secretly started taking antidepressants that I had gotten online. I was ashamed and terrified of what people would think if they found out. I didn’t want opinions. I didn’t want judgment. I didn’t want people to see me differently.

At the time, everything in my life finally seemed to be going well. I had community. I had a job. I had stability. After losing jobs and relationships in the past, I became desperate to hold everything together. What I didn’t realize was that hiding my struggles and living in fear was hurting me more than honesty ever could.

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light.” — Ephesians 5:8

Another example was while helping a friend with social media posts for her writing business and women’s organization. Again, I hid parts of my life my anxiety, my living situation, and the struggles I was facing because I feared being looked down on. Eventually, it affected our work relationship. Thankfully, I apologized, we had an honest conversation, and things began healing.

“For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.” — Mark 4:22

For years, I was also in denial about how deeply anxiety affected my life. I didn’t understand why relationships struggled, why jobs came and went, or why I constantly felt overwhelmed. While other people may have had faults too, I wasn’t looking inward. I wasn’t realizing how much my anxiety was impacting the people around me, my planning, my emotions, and even my relationship with God.

That changed while I was working at the daycare. After experiencing a severe anxiety attack that led me to the ER, some friends from church pointed out how serious my anxiety had become. I still have to forgive the way some things were handled because it made me feel less than human, but it opened my eyes to the reality of what I was facing.

Eventually, I admitted myself into inpatient care and began learning cognitive behavioral therapy tools. Slowly, I started becoming more honest with myself, with others, and with God. And honestly? That honesty changed my life.

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” — James 5:16

Healing often begins with honesty.

“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” — John 15:3

References:

Ephesians 5:8 — “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light.”

Mark 4:22 — “For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.”

James 5:16 — “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

John 15:3 — “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”