T R U T H N O T E S
Watch. Read. Reflect.
Short teachings from Jill Simms, PhD — with written reflections that invite deeper self-examination, healing, and unity.
The Remedy:
Today I'd like to begin with the end in mind — the remedy. My dissertation uncovered a great deal about church discord and disunity, and I don't want the symptoms to take center stage. So I'm sharing the solution first. When we talk about church discord and disunity, it can be easy to focus only on the symptoms: offense, pride, jealousy, anger, unforgiveness, and division. But the goal of Liberating Truth is not just to name the problem. The goal is healing, restoration, and unity. The foundational remedy is a framework I call the 4 Pillars of Growth Mindset. The four pillars form an acronym: HEAL. H is for Humility — a willingness to learn with our defenses down, open to our own flaws. E is for Emotional Intentionality, building what derail us from achieving true resolve. A is for Assessment — an honest, spiritual examination of the condition of our own hearts. And L is for Listening — being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, as James 1 reminds us. To truly walk in unity, we have to examine what's going on inside us — not just around us. These four pillars: humility, emotional control, assessment, and listening, help us move from discord toward healing. Truth handled with discernment and love doesn't divide. It liberates. As you reflect on HEAL, share your thoughts on which pillar stands out to you most. God's blessings to you.
The Goal:
In my last video, I led with the remedy. Today, I want to begin with the goal. My research looked at more than what divides us. It looked at what heals us. And healing always starts beneath the surface. When we see discord around us, it can be tempting to focus only on what is visible. But if we want the unity God designed for us, we have to go deeper. For many of us, what looks like conflict on the surface is rooted in something older: the self-hatred that generations of pain have quietly planted. We have to examine the condition of the heart. That is the goal of Liberating Truth: to bring what is hidden into the light, so truth can clarify, heal, restore, and unify. This takes an honest and vulnerable posture. Before we point a finger at anyone else, we have to ask God to search our own hearts. Are we walking in love? Are we practicing peace? Are we responding with humility? Are we listening with a desire to understand? This kind of transformation does not happen by accident. We have to be active participants in our own healing: listening, learning, stewarding our emotions, and allowing trusted believers to speak truth in love. The goal is not one breakthrough. It is a daily life of unity. And often, it is the little things that trip us up: the small offense, the quick reaction, the hidden pride, or the unwillingness to forgive. But when we trade pride for humility and hostility for listening, we begin to dismantle the self-hatred that's quietly held us back. Remember: truth handled with discernment and love does not divide. It liberates. So let's step into the light together. Which is harder to practice: trading pride for humility, or hostility for listening? Share your thoughts in the comments. God bless you.
Knowing God Loves Me:
Have you ever believed God loves the world, but quietly wondered if that love truly reaches you... If you have, you are not alone. It is one of the most honest questions hiding in the condition of the heart. When shame or low worth sits beneath the surface, it can distort the way we believe God sees us. We may say the right words, but still live from a place of spiritual insecurity. Unworthiness quietly shapes how we see ourselves, how we treat our neighbors, and how we show up in community. My research points to something many believers carry without naming it: an internalized self-hatred that acts as a block between us and a pure, authentic relationship with our Heavenly Father. But here is what I want you to know: Jesus is a stranger to self-hatred. And Romans 8 gives us a stronger truth: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Not our past. Not our fears. Not our wounds. Not what history tried to tell us about our worth. You are created in the image of God. Not after you improve. Not once you perform better. Right now. Walking in that truth is not a destination. It is a daily declaration. We begin to see ourselves as created in the image of God. What is one part of God’s love that is hardest for you to believe is meant for you? Share in the comments. God bless you.
Believing God Loves Me:
It is easy to name what wounded us. Racism is real. Oppression is real. Historical trauma is real. But my research led me to another question: What happens when we can clearly name the problem, but struggle to move toward the remedy? We may never ask the harder questions. Where has pain shaped my response? Where has pride made me defensive? Where has distrust made me pull away? Where have I focused on what someone else needs to change, while avoiding what God wants to reveal in me? Liberating Truth does not ignore the pain. It simply refuses to let pain have the final word. Sociologist Amos Wilson reminds us that while victimization is real, we also have to take an honest look at what we are contributing. That is not dismissing the pain. It is demanding more than survival. Shifting toward the remedy means turning inward: to honest self-examination, active listening, emotional discipline, and the willingness to let God search our own hearts first. We are not ignoring what has been done to us. We are refusing to let it define the ceiling of our healing. And we let the fruit of the Spirit shape how we respond to one another. When we shift from reaction to reflection, unity becomes more than an idea. It becomes a daily practice. Truth handled with discernment and love does not divide. It liberates. Where do you think we get stuck most often: naming the problem, or committing to the remedy? Share your thoughts in the comments. God bless you.