But life won't let us pretend forever. Suffering grabs us and shakes us. We often escape into denial. That is why a wife whose husband is cheating on her will choose to believe that he is working late night after night. That is why a couple whose marriage is in shambles will smile in public and tell you how much they really do love each other.
Christians even play the denial game.
They hide their fears behind brave words that they learn at church. The sadness about denial is that it is like a vaccination. As long as I deny that I sin and that the world is held in the grip of Satan, I will not reach out to the Cross of Christ where my healing is found. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Ordinary sinners are usually living in poor judgement.