LeAndria Johnson, a well-known gospel singer recently made headlines again when she admitted to being in jail for 30 days after violating probation due to an DUI. Not long after her admission, she went live on Facebook before entering rehab. I commend her and I’ll tell you why. As a child of God, it’s hard to be in the face of people and have flaws. Now add to that, the fact she’s a preacher and gospel singer and it makes it even harder. Yet, she owned her truth. She has a problem with alcohol. Here’s why I’m sharing this. To tell you, STOP HIDING YOUR FLAWS! I don’t care if you are in the public’s eye like LeAndria. I don’t care if you have ten thousand followers. Neither do I care about your platform, how good you look on that conference fliers or how many people log on to catch your live; it matters not, if you’re still bound! To you, that woman or man who barely has friends, you don’t make videos, you rarely post on social media, you don’t have a platform or a million followers … I’m talking to you too. I’m speaking to the woman who had a hard day with the children. I’m talking to the teacher who is suicidal. I’m speaking to the preacher who can slay worship service but not giants.

I’m talking to the deacon who can’t go a day without drinking or smoking. I’m talking to the usher who is lying with man after man because you don’t know your worth. I’m speaking to the CFO, COO, CEO who was molested as a child and you can’t keep yourself from going back to that dark place in your mind. I’m speaking to you … man or woman of God, whose past keep drilling a hole in your present. I’m speaking to the man who has fathered children but can’t be a dad because no one has taught you how. I’m speaking to the woman whose marriage is suffering because nobody taught you how to be a wife. I’m speaking to you who are depressed and find yourself being full from tears and can’t eat. I’m speaking to you who don’t feel good enough. So, you drink. So, you smoke. So, you cut yourself. So, you take pills. So, you sleep around. So, you party. So, you pretend. You smile because if you stop, you’ll burst into tears. You are the life of the party and if you stop, you might just put that gun to your head and pull the trigger. You show up when people call and if you don’t, the silence may swallow you up. Come out beloved and get help. Stop hiding your problems because when you hide them, you can’t get help for them. Stop being ashamed because that shame is what’s keeping you bound. Call the therapist, make the appointment and go this time. Check yourself into rehab and commit this time. Wipe off the makeup and let us see the real you. Roll up your sleeves and show your scars. THEN GET HELP!

Beloved, this can be your exodus, exodus = departure, from what has you imprisoned but you’ve first got to admit your part. “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”” Romans 8:15