Truth Be Told - Matthew West

 "I'm fine."

This single sentence is probably the biggest tell that I am lying. 

I say I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine but I’m not

I’m broken

Do you ever have days that you desperately want someone to ask you how you are doing - and then stick around for the gory messy answer that isn't just "I'm fine" (or it's twin sister: "I'm tired")? Do you have a person in your life who will listen to you when you say "I'm fine" and then call you out on your lies? That person is important. The person that will force you to be honest when you don't want to be.

Please don't take this as me giving every one of you permission to call me a liar if I say I am fine. I do have those people in my life. People who have earned that by walking with when I am not fine. And I think it is even healthy to have different levels of depth to friendships, levels of answers to the "how are you question" that are true - but provide levels of intimacy ("into-me-see") depending on the relationship you have. But the question is: who is that person to you? Who do you allow to see into you? Who do you choose to see into? Where do you invest in other people?

There’s a sign on the door saying “come as you are” but I doubt it

If we lived like it was true every Sunday morning pew would be crowded

What I am saying is that if we aren't honest with people we need to recognize a few things. That lack of honesty will prevent you from entering into real relationship with people. It also will affect the influence you have on others. If they think you have it all together all the time then they won't come to you when their ducks aren't even in the same pond let alone in a line...for the fourth week in a row. When you invite them to church with you, or into relationship with a loving God, they will think they aren't worthy...that they don't have it all together enough for those promises to be for them.

But the bigger issue here: if we're lying to God about how we're doing we are blocking Him out - making it so that He can't work in our lives. I am far more likely to call Him a liar when I won't accept His forgiveness or love than I am to let Him call me a liar when I tell Him I'm ok and I've got this. 

Can I really stand here unashamed

And know that you love for me won’t change

Oh God If that’s really true

Then let the Truth Be Told

Let the truth be told. His love for you won't ever change.

Lie number 1 you’re supposed to have it all together

And when they ask how you’re doing just smile and tell them “never better”

Lie number 2 everybody’s life is perfect except yours

So keep your messes and your wounds and your secrets safe with you behind closed doors

Truth be told

The truth is rarely told

I say I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine but I’m not

I’m broken

And when it’s out of control I say it’s under control but it’s not

And you know it

I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it

When being honest is the only way to fix it

There’s no failure, no fall

There’s no sin you don’t already know

So let the truth be told

There’s a sign on the door saying “come as you are” but I doubt it

If we lived like it was true every Sunday morning pew would be crowded

But didn’t you say the church should look more like a hospital

A safe place for the sick and the sinner and and sick and the scarred and the prodigal

Truth be told

The truth is rarely told

Am I the only one who says...

I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine but I’m not

I’m broken

And when it’s out of control I say it’s under control but it’s not

And you know it

I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it

When being honest is the only way to fix it

There’s no failure, no fall

There’s no sin you don’t already know

So let the truth be told

Can I really stand here unashamed

And know that you love for me won’t change

Oh God If that’s really true

Then let the Truth Be Told

Music by Matthew West performing Truth Be Told (Official Music Video). (C) 2020 Provident Label Group LLC, a division of Sony Music Entertainment