I think one reason we're so afraid to look in the mirror is that we know we'll see something we're not prepared to give up. Deep down, we all know the patterns (internal or external) that make up the wall between ourselves and our God. Most of these patterns started as a type of security blanket, a way to deal with stuff in our lives that keeps painful realities or overwhelming emotions at bay. But often, they also hold us back from accepting the presence of God, the love that He is more than ready to pour into us.

Even knowing this, we don't want to see our spiritual condition for what it has become. Even knowing that freedom waits on the other side, we don't want to give up the patterns we have come to "need", even enjoy. We're not ready for the inevitable battle. In a sense, we don't believe it can be won until we're good enough. No warrior enters the battle broken, meek, and humbled. That's why God's Kingdom is so backwards...until we get to that point, we're not fit to fight. Otherwise we're fighting in our own strength, and that only goes so far. When we're broken enough to admit our need for God's armour; when we're meek enough to admit our need for His power; when we're humbled enough to admit our need for His wisdom -- then we're ready for battle.

It takes courage to come before God in the knowledge that our condition will be reflected off of His purity in such a way that we can no longer ignore or rationalize it. But His Word tells us to "... approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Heb. 4:16). Could He invite us any more lovingly?