August 17
The Lies
We Believe
“But Eve was tricked by the snake’s clever lies. And I’m afraid that in the same way your minds may be led astray. They may be pulled away from your true and pure love for Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 (NIrV)
Dawn used to trust her instincts. She used to believe in her own thoughts, her own feelings. But lately, everything seemed… off. And Phil always had a way of explaining it away.
Like the time she was sure they had planned to meet at her place for dinner. She had cooked, set the table, even lit a candle. But when he didn’t show, she called him, and his voice was flat with irritation.
“What are you talking about, babe? I told you I had plans tonight.”
“No, you didn’t,” she had said, her heart thudding.
Phil sighed. “We literally talked about it yesterday. You never listen, do you?”
She had apologized then, confused, embarrassed. But later, she checked her texts. Nowhere had he mentioned other plans. She had wanted to bring it up, but she knew how that would go. He’d laugh. Call her paranoid. Ask if she was okay.
And there was the night at the party, when he spent half the evening with his arm around some girl from work. When Dawn confronted him later, he shook his head, grinning.
“You’re so sensitive, Dawn. It’s cute how jealous you get.”
She hated herself for laughing, for letting him kiss her forehead and tell her to “relax.” But Robin wasn’t laughing.
“I don’t like how he talks to you,” Robin said over coffee one afternoon.
Dawn stirred her latte. “He just has a strong personality. He doesn’t mean to—”
“He does mean to,” Robin cut in. “Dawn, he’s gaslighting you.”
Dawn flinched. “He’s what?”
“Making you question reality. Twisting things to make you feel crazy so you don’t call him out. It’s manipulation.”
Dawn wanted to argue, to defend him. But the more she thought about it, the more the puzzle pieces clicked together. The misplaced blame. The subtle shaming. The constant questioning of her own memories.
That night, as she lay awake, she whispered a prayer. “God, am I being deceived?”
A quiet, aching clarity settled over her. She had ignored the red flags, let love blind her. But God was opening her eyes now. And she couldn’t ignore the truth anymore.
Prayer:
Lord, help me see clearly.
Give me wisdom to recognize deception and courage to walk away from anything that pulls me away from truth.
Help me trust Your voice above the voices that manipulate and confuse.
I want to love with a pure heart, free from control and fear.
Lead me in Your truth, always.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
