Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.  
Proverbs 10:9

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 
John 8:32

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Believe it or not, I was a rebellious teenager. For the sake of keeping this short, let’s just say my testimony is a wild ride of a hurting young person overwhelmingly and abundantly redeemed by God. In a particularly hard season, I remember the anxiety I felt just keeping up with all the lies, half-truths, and spun stories I was telling. I managed to get away with a lot, but eventually it all came out and I had to confront the reality of the way I was living versus the person I tried to present myself to be. 

It was a brutal crash landing. It hurt. A lot. But, even in the midst of the pain, I felt another, very surprising thing—relief. It took hitting the ground to realize how exhausted I was of the lies, the unhealthy choices, the hiding. Even if it would be a painful journey, I could finally be free. 

There is a rebellious spirit in each of us—whether it’s a stronghold of sin, a tendency to dig in our heels when challenged, or a desire simply to do what feels good in the moment. If we choose not to keep that rebellion in check, it can become our character. When that happens, it will eventually consume us. It won’t just be a flaw or an occasional bad choice, but something that occupies our time and our energy to hide. When we choose not to live with integrity, it robs us of our ability to be the authentic version of ourselves. The mask we put on to hide those parts of ourselves actually diminishes the rest of us, until we end up on a path that seems unending and overwhelming. 

The truth we find in Proverbs can feel threatening when we are living out of our rebellion, but the reality is that it is a hope-filled promise from God. The truth—the reality of our lives—will eventually come into the light. Then we can let go, find freedom, and experience transformation and redemption. When we are honest about ourselves and embrace the goodness, we can finally experience the freedom that comes with a life that lives in the path of Jesus rather than the bind of our own rebellion. 

Next Steps

Where are you living in your own rebellion? Spend time in a prayer of surrender over that part of your life. Consider inviting in a trusted friend, group leader, or pastor to help you navigate it and pray alongside you. Pray not just in a posture of confession, but in a celebration of freedom that comes when you break that stronghold.