Step Four - The Honest Look

Step 4 rather abruptly, it seems to most of us, turns a fierce searchlight on all that has gone on in our lives.  It’s no wonder  some folks flee at this point.  I mean, if we are being honest, even those who’ve not gone down the trail of active addiction, who of us are anxious to expose  all the ways we’ve gone wrong?  But that’s both the challenge and the invitation of Step 4 as we make this journey from brokenness to healing.

We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

We all know that we fail.  It’s looking at not only what we’ve done but why we’ve done it and owning that we have some responsibility for it all.  It’s so easy to blame others but to take a look at our own character defects and the impact our behaviours and attitudes have had on others – now that’s just hard.

Many things in our past fill us with shame.  And while they may be ugly, we can find our humanity in the middle of it all.  We’re just like everyone else.  God says we are all sinners and so, while we need to do something about the sin, we are not different from others. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

When we are sick and go to the doctor, describing our symptoms to him, he provides us with a diagnosis and a treatment plan. It’s why we need to ask God to search our hearts rather than heading off on that journey on our own. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24

We are so glad, God, that You know more about us than we know about ourselves. Help us to let You sort out what’s harmful in our lives so the wonderful things You’ve prepared for us can shine into and through us going forward.

Whether we have one day or a lifetime of brokenness to acknowledge and confess, we remember that through Jesus Christ we have forgiveness and healing for every offense committed against us or by us. We’re so grateful. Amen

God doesn’t want us to expose things so we can feel embarrassed and ashamed.  His sole purpose is that we find forgiveness and healing.  Let’s let the light of God’s truth shine in us today.