Secrets in the Hearts of Men

Henry David Thoreau said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” As a pastor of years, I have seen it many times over.  The strains of life cause issues too close to divest, and despair casts a shadow over the life.  The quiet is not calm- it is coping.  How heavy the burden of the unshared.  And this is true of the mass of people.  Others surmise because there’s nothing else they can do, but they most often miss the mark not knowing the unseen issues.  Unrequited love, unrecognized grief and unfulfilled dreams are wearisome burdens to bear through life.

The radio queried, “Who knows what secrets lurk in the hearts of men?  The shadow knows.” Satan takes full advantage of our loneliness and pain.  We can scarcely hide our grief from other people, let alone the one who has crippled the righteous for millennia.  He’ll remind us of our failures and disappointments at every turn.  Nothing makes him happier than seeing people writhe in despair at the futility of life.  At one time, it seemed to me that the defeated had not tried hard enough, but the years have taught me that that’s not always true.

When Adam fell- everything fell.  I did not choose this world, but I live in it.  It’s hard to keep your chin up when simple living drags you down.  Sin wars against the soul.  If that weren’t bad enough, I’m an enemy to myself (you are, too) because of the lure of the sinful nature.  Most of our temptations come from within.  Guilt walks lock-step with sin, and our failures become hidden, unspoken weights.  Quiet desperation ensues, but Satan knows our secrets.  No one will understand, so we’re afraid to tell, and because we do not tell, no one understands. 

A secret is a great weight.  Of course, there are some good things that we may keep hidden as personal blessings, but the majority of our secrets are shadows on the soul.  We have an enemy who takes advantage of that.  Thankfully, we also have a God who cares and comforts.  There is no reason to carry the load alone.  We were meant to share our grief and grievances with God and man.  We were meant to confess our sins to both, as well.  Break the silence, and despair loses its grip.  I hope you can.  I hope you will.

Sterl

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