BY SHALYN C. WILLIS
Years ago, there was a youth pastor who I met at a retreat who was one of the rawest and funniest guys there. He was always great about getting teens hyped up for games and competitions, but when it came time to be serious about something, he would say, “It’s time for some real talk.” I always loved this because it was such a great reminder that sometimes we just gotta get real with one another.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices. — Colossians 3:9
God subtly and randomly reminded me of this “real talk” concept the other day. It got me thinking about how so many people today don’t know how to be real. This world of filters and social media has given us the ability to portray a perfect life to the world. When in reality, we are all struggling with real life just like everyone else. The scripture above talks about needing to be honest after having a transformed life. When we become one of God’s children through salvation, we are called to a life of truth and honesty. While many of us may do our best to not tell lies, how many of us are lying to others with our actions?
I sometimes find myself guilty of trying to be a certain way so that others will like me better. It’s human nature to want to be accepted. But even if the entire world accepted you, you would feel empty inside. If we can get it through our heads that the only opinion that matters is God’s, it will free us from this lifestyle of needing others to think that we are perfect. By being our truest selves, we will find that it is actually our most beautiful selves. Vulnerability, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful qualities in a person because it is so rare in this day and age.
So let us not get caught up in that lifestyle of perfection, but rather live life real. Let’s have some “real talk.” Let’s be those girls who care only about what God thinks and live life filter-free. Be the girl God created you to be. I hope you will accept the challenge to walk the real life walk.