Exposed, Not Ashamed

Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

Have you ever had that dream where you’re standing in a crowd, everything feels normal—and then suddenly you realize you’re naked? People are staring. You feel exposed. Ashamed. Panicked. I always wake up grasping at my clothes, relieved it was just a dream… but still embarrassed.

Honestly, life can feel like that sometimes. We carry things we’re not proud of—mistakes, habits, thoughts, past decisions we hope no one ever finds out about. Things that, if exposed, might change how people see us. So we hide them. We cover them up. We pretend they’re not there. But deep down, that panic remains.

God never asked us to hide from Him. The very things we try hardest to conceal are the things He invites us to bring into the light. Not to shame us—but to heal us. When we lay our hearts bare before God, He doesn’t turn away. He cleans. He restores. He creates something new within us. Just like our bodies need regular showers—because, let’s be honest, without them we start to stink—our hearts need cleansing too. Life gets messy. Sin stinks. But when we bring our hearts to God, He washes us with the water of His Word, renewing us from the inside out. Instead of running from Him with our mess, He asks us to come closer. Open-handed. Honest. As we are. Because He is the only one who can truly make a heart new—cleaner, lighter, and better than before.

This sketch reflects that moment of surrender. The skeleton, drawn with cross-hatching, represents what was once hidden, broken, and lifeless. Dark. Exposed. Yet unafraid. The heart—painted in watercolor—has been offered freely to the God who makes all things new. There is no fear of judgment here. Only trust. Confidence that God is gentle with what matters most to us and powerful enough to remove the messes holding us back.

Come as you are.

Let Him create in you a clean heart.