Shhh…Don't tell anyone. When someone says that to us, why is human nature such that it just lights up a temptation to run out and shout it from the rooftops? Is it the pride of feeling like you're on the inside, one of the cool kids who knows something nobody else does? Is there a neurological explanation of what happens to the brain when a "secret" gets deposited? Whatever it is, it's both hilarious and frustrating to watch as most people, including ourselves, struggle to hold it tight to the vest.
I love the mischievous side of Jesus. In so many times during his ministry, he would do something fantastic that just blew the minds of those who witnessed it, and then say, "Don't tell anyone". This can be our little secret. You know, on the inside, he is cracking up as these words come out because he knows exactly what comes next. They run and tell everyone. Not only is Jesus an incredible friend, healer, teacher, savior, and Lord, but a brilliant promoter. He knew how to get the word out.
"Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. They were completely amazed and said again and again, 'Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.'" (Mark 7:36-37)
It was gross but effective. Jesus came upon a deaf man with a speech impediment. And in a "truth that can be stranger than fiction" moment, he jammed his fingers into the man's ears, spat on them, and then wiped them on the man's tongue. Voila! That did the trick, and he was completely healed.
It's events like these that deepen my conviction that the Bible is true. You just wouldn't make this stuff up! It's also a great reminder that Jesus engages with each of us based on our specific needs. Sometimes it can feel awkward or really uncomfortable. That is the point.
An encounter with Jesus is meant to be transformational, not comfortable.
Think about your business as well. We all have coaches and counselors trying to help us develop new skills and abilities. There are new techniques and changes that they see can help us grow. But it's uncomfortable, unnatural, and we innately resist because it's different and we believe our own thinking. Remember, it's your own thinking that got you where you are, so learn to think differently if you want different results. Let it be uncomfortable for a while. You will eventually hear and see differently.
Don't prescribe the cure to the doctor. Let Him do it His way, no matter how painful, strange, or uncomfortable it may feel. And when your life is transformed...Shhh. Don't tell anyone...
