When I think about “standing for truth,” this uneasy feeling awakes inside me, and socially-awkward visions of feeling like an outsider start to play in my mind’s eye. I think of those times in high school when I wracked my brain for the right answer and some jumbled, watered-down response came spilling out of my mouth. Or I think of my heart pounding and my stomach turning because I did know the right answer, but I was too afraid to voice the truth. That’s why this passage convicts my heart every time I read it: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” (2 Tim. 1:7–8). As Christians, there will be times that we need to speak the truth boldly, and we shouldn’t back down in fear like my nervous, introverted heart wants to do. We’re commanded to be bold, and we need to know what the Word says so that we can be prepared with an answer (1 Peter 3:14–16).
You, Christian girl, stand for truth with your entire life.
But I believe we’re quick to think about standing for truth only in these limited terms: Someone brings up an issue, we deliver a wow-worthy speech of Word-packed truth. Truth bomb. Mic drop. Nailed it. While a well-crafted argument may be the right tool for a job, is it the only tool? It actually isn’t. Let’s broaden our idea of standing for truth. Get ready; this might be a pretty freeing thought for you. And it’s also a massive responsibility. You, Christian girl, stand for truth with your entire life. Here’s the freeing part: You don’t have to deliver jaw-dropping speeches that blow people away. Your daily, consistent, Jesus-loving testimony speaks volumes to the watching world. Here’s the massive responsibility part: Because the world is watching, you have a God-commanded responsibility to showcase His holiness, love, purity, and truth.
Pieces of the Puzzle
To reconcile the freedom and responsibility that comes with stand for truth with your life, perhaps it’s helpful to imagine your walk with Christ as one big puzzle. That whole entire puzzle enables you to stand for truth in one way or another. Knowing truth and speaking it well is just one piece. Purity is another. Kindness is a piece. So is studying the Word. Worship, generosity, loving, and investing in your church—they’re all puzzle pieces. And all those puzzle pieces shine the glory of God to a lost world. Way cool, right?
Because the world is watching, you have a God-commanded responsibility to showcase His holiness, love, purity, and truth.
Because your whole life can be a testimony of God’s truth, it leads us to ask this question: Do my “puzzle pieces,” all the areas of my life, consistently reflect God’s standard of truth? It’s a whopper of a question, for sure. I don’t intend to overwhelm you but to prompt your thinking. God wants every area of your life. He deserves every area of your life. And He can use your surrendered, consistent, faithful, authentic life to speak volumes to unsaved hearts! What a way to stand for truth!
Shine Bright, Shine Surrendered, Shine Authentic
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14–16).
You’re a gospel light, and you have the potential to be absolutely radiant with God’s truth. Do you want to shine bright, surrendered, and authentic? Start by examining your own heart and life (your “puzzle pieces”) first. Then, as you grow in grace and as the Holy Spirit changes you into Christ’s image, your testimony can impact others.
He can use your surrendered, consistent, faithful, authentic life to speak volumes to unsaved hearts!
Here’s a quiz from Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild to help you do a heart checkup.