share your darkness

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Matthew 26:69-27:14. We read the sad tale of Peter's betrayal. It's a dark and embarrassing moment in the life of the early church. It is, actually, a great argument for the legitimacy of the gospel narrative, since any hagiography would have left this passage out. (If you're unaccustomed to the word, hagiography is a glowing account of the virtues of a saint, which usually downplay or ignore their weaknesses and sins.)

It's important that we see this moment in Peter's life. Because it teaches us that even when we've done horrible things and turned our backs on God, we will still be welcomed back (in an oddly fortuitous and God breathed coincidence, "Welcome Back, Kottar" is playing on the radio in the other room right now) when we've repented. He will reinstate us, and give us the commission to "feed My sheep."

But that's not all. This passage teaches us that we need to share our weakness with others. It's tempting to only share when we are holy and good with others, and to keep our weakness and our sins in the darkness. We're ashamed of the evil we've done (rightly so) and so we don't want anyone to see it. But we need to be vulnerable. We need to share our struggles and our sins with others, so that they see that even we fallen, sinful, silly humans can walk with Jesus when we've been welcomed back.

So don't be afraid to share your pain. Share your darkness. Others will identify with it, and you can help lead them into the light. Just like He did for you.

God, thanks for teaching us to share our darkness, so that we can also share Your light.