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#32 My Heart Undressed: Hidden ClosetsJANE PHINNEY: The Lord Jesus can be trusted with the key to the door of your heart.
The Lord is using Jane’s writings in a truly powerful way—her words carry a depth and purity that pierce through the noise and speak directly to the heart. I’ve watched countless readers respond with tears, testimonies, and renewed hope, and I can say without hesitation that her series has become one of our most read and shared resources. Personally, I’ve been moved by the Spirit-led insight she offers, and I believe God is using her voice to awaken, comfort, and commission many in this hour. Her obedience to write is bearing fruit far beyond what she may even realize. - Stephen
HIDDEN CLOSETSWith the changing of seasons, I’m always motivated to reassess, inventory, & purge our external lives of any unnecessary, worn-out, or rarely used items. At our house, this means cleaning out closets, clearing the basement of extra items, & jotting down potential maintenance needs. Today it’s beautifully cool outside. And with all the local schools back in session, Fall doesn’t seem all that far away. I’m a planner because I was taught to be one. I might miss some things. But life has enough surprises without overlooking the things I can do something about right now. I grew up fascinated with closets. My grandparents had intriguing attics in their old houses. With their permission, I would often go explore the upstairs rooms that held glimpses of the past. I loved the wallpaper & the furniture, as well as revisiting the familiar things that were tied to my life. It went without saying that I would responsibly leave the premises in the same condition in which I found it. My own childhood attic ran the entire length of our upstairs. In addition to reminders of family history, it stored items we often used. So I knew exactly what went where! And why. The system was sensible & made the needed retrieval easier. My sorting adventures frequently remind me that closets & attics are much like our hearts. They have doors, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that the entrance is initially visible. Some closets are locked & require a key (permission) to gain entry. Generally, that key is given only to those with whom a trusting relationship has been built---over time. When a closet door is opened, the natural inclination is to turn on the light, revealing the depth of the room, the contents & the dimly lit corners. Our lives are a compilation of personal history that forms our life story. We store those treasured chapters in our hearts…our personal hiding place. The details that formed our self-perception can be filed, boxed & taped shut, or simply thrown into a corner of our soul. Some folks wear their hearts on their sleeves, so to speak. What you see is what you get. Their closet doors are open & some have no doors at all. You are free to roam in your discovery of how they became who they are. Others barely let you get your foot through a crack in the door. There is little to no communication freedom, & no welcome sign that invites you to peek into those files, open the boxes, or rummage through the messy piles in random corners. I learned a long time ago that the best of human intentions has limitations. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. We aren’t designed by God to carry the weight of all that life dishes out, by ourselves. There’s not a person alive who won’t let you down at some juncture in life. At first glance, I tend to be more reserved, preferring to observe facial expressions & physical reactions. This tells me a lot about what might be inside a closet of the heart. Personally, I’m put off by pushy, outspoken people who try to bang down my door & barge in. Consequently, I try to be considerate by tactfully waiting to be asked inside. There is only ONE 100% safe relationship that I know of. That results from an ever-increasing intimacy of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord & Life. The Bible is inexhaustible in its proof of God’s loving plan & purposes for our lives. The more I read it for comfort & study it to gain understanding, the more I know by confirmed life experience that I am powerless to help myself. Jeremiah 10:23 says that we don’t even know what’s best for us. In His kindness, God leads us to repentance (Acts 4:19, Romans 2:4). He forgives us first (Psalm130:4, Ephesians 4:12). He gave Jesus to us out of His great love (John 3:16) & we can’t truly love separate from abiding in Him (I John 4:7-21). God can be trusted because He does NOT lie (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:18). He doesn’t accept bribes or show partiality (Deut.10:17), & He doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). That noted FACT is comforting to me! He collects our tears (Psalm 56:8), hears our prayers (Psalm 65:2), & carries our burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). The Lord Jesus can be trusted with the key to the door of your heart. He calls you & then He waits…because He isn’t pushy. His love breaks down the barriers of fear & resistance, so that the offer of salvation through the indwelling Spirit is yours to believe & to receive. He “turns on the light” to reveal your struggles, pain, & the lies you’ve owned as your truth. In the security of His love & forgiveness, you are empowered to face what you’ve so long denied. It’s a process. But then, & only then, can He faithfully sort through your files, gently open/reveal/heal the taped boxes of secrets, & free you from the encumbrance of the messy piles in the dark corners. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has SET YOU FREE from the law of sin & death.” (Romans 8:1&2) Will you give Him your key? Thank you for reading, My Heart Undressed. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. We want to extend our eternal gratitude to each of you for taking the time to read our publications and engage with our posts. Your support and interest mean the world to us, and it motivates us to continue creating content that resonates with you.
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