I hope I am not the only one who has done this. 

I have gotten dressed up for an event.  Shave, shower, nice outfit, cologne, and looking good.  Take every precaution in the house, in the vehicle, and walking to the door.  Walk into the event and grab an hors d’oeuvre.  Still trying to look good and yet cautiously eat.  Only to have the sauce shoot out and land on your shirt.  Maybe it was that one tiny piece rolled off the plate onto your outfit. And there you are, stuck.  The napkin won’t clean it adequately.  Taking and placing it under hot water is not an option.  Here you are at this special event with a stain that you cannot hide. 

I’m not sure if you have experienced this, but I have done this more times than I care to recall.  Coffee stains, beverage mishaps, sauce spills, rolling food, and icing globs have decorated my clothing since I was young.  Still, I am never sure what to do. 

Do you hide and hope no one notices?

Do you ignore it and hope no one sees it or mentions it?

Do you embrace it and nervously laugh it off as you hope people do not think you are an idiot?

These same questions are worth asking about the stains on our souls.  When you have sinned, made a mistake, or failed, how do you handle it?  Do you hide it?  Do you ignore it?  Do you embrace it? 

The Bible instructs us to confess our sins to each other.  We are to find people who care about us, our spiritual life, and growing in our faith and tell them our struggles.  Reveal the stains and ask them for advice, encouragement, and prayer. 

Hiding your stains and ignoring them never make the problem go away.  It is only when we acknowledge them can we move forward in the grace God provides.