Scripture: “ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5 – 7
Lesson: To take the first step toward growth and recovery, we must first face and admit our denial. You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there. The acrostic for DENIAL explains what can happen if we do not face our denial.
D: Disables Our Feelings
Understanding and acknowledging our feelings is a form of freedom.
E: Energy
Lost Anxiety causes us to waste precious energy running from our past and worrying about and dreading the future.
N: Negates Growth
We cannot move forward until we are ready to step out of our denial and into the truth.
I: Isolates Us From God
God’s light shines on the truth.
A: Alienates Us From Our Relationships
Denial tells us we are getting away with it, but that is a lie.
L: Lengthens the Pain
Denial doesn’t protect us from our pain; it allows our pain to grow and turn into shame and guilt.
Life Application:
Denial whispers that we can handle it, that it doesn’t hurt that much, or that admitting the truth makes us weak. But true freedom starts when we stop hiding and start inviting God into the places we’ve been avoiding. This week, name one truth you’ve been afraid to face, pray over it, and share it with one safe woman. *Celebrate Recovery meets Tuesday nights at the McVay Family Center in New Sharon. This is a safe place to find honesty, hope, and healing. The meal starts at 6 pm, and the lesson begins at 6:30 pm.
