Facing the truth about ourselves and life can be threatening. Often, we would rather deceive ourselves about looking better or being more important than we are. It feels better. But isn’t it better in the long run to face the truth?
I have been struggling to face the truth that I may have a blood pressure problem. I take it at the right time of the day, I go through all kinds of gyrations to relax, I take several readings and only record the best ones. And the results show that there is no problem. But is that the truth?
Every month or so I go to my doctor and in his office the readings are usually very high. Thus, he concludes I have a blood pressure problem. But I think it’s more an anxiety problem. What’s the truth? Maybe both are true. Until recently I was reasonably content to believe I had normal blood pressure because it was normal at home. But in a doctor’s office I suffer from White Coat Syndrome, which is usually driven by anxiety, not an actual blood pressure problem.
I finally decided it was better to know and trust the truth than possibly have a problem and not deal with it. Or, not have a problem and over-medicate. So, I began to seek God for some answers.
One thing he has led me to do is to have a conversation with my doctor about what he thinks is causing the high readings in his office and what can be done about it. “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3). I think I know what his answers will be, but I’m only guessing unless I talk to him.
Then God impressed upon to take some actions that would reduce the readings in the doctor’s office. Some of these actions included scheduling morning appointments (when the blood pressure tends to be lowest), arrange to have two readings (the first one is usually highest), and relax a few minutes before it is taken. Recently, I did this with another doctor and the readings were normal.
So, what is the truth? Do I even want to know the truth?
Truth can be hard to handle as Jack Nicolson said in the movie, A Few Good Men. We would rather pretend that the truth is what we want it to be than to face painful reality.
I plan to continue to seek the truth about my blood pressure wherever it leads. The anxiety of not knowing the truth is too painful to continue in ignorance.
Do you have some possible painful truth in your life that you are running from? Has your pain risen to the level where you are ready to face the truth, no matter how much it may not be to your liking?
The Bible says, “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32, NLT). It may set us free from unnecessary anxiety or from a problem that can be fixed with a few lifestyle changes.
May we be strong and let our hearts take courage and trust God to give us the strength to discover and face the truth of our lives. He has promised that whatever that truth is he will give us the strength to overcome the obstacles. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, ESV).
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