Just Be Honest
Scripture
“O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die. But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.”
—Psalm 13:1–3, 5–6 (NLT)
Why is it that we often hide our real feelings? We do it with each other and, if we are honest, we do it with God. Somewhere along the way we learned to put on a smile and pretend everything is fine, even when it is not. We fear being judged, misunderstood, or thought of as weak. But the truth is that God is not shocked or disappointed by our emotions. He already knows them. What He desires most is honesty.
The book of Psalms gives us permission to be real with God. It is filled with prayers that are raw, emotional, and sometimes even messy. David, the mighty warrior who defeated Goliath, cried out in anguish, “How long, O Lord?” He did not hide his pain or confusion, yet Scripture calls him a man after God’s own heart.
“Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”¹
— Teresa of Ávila
Friendship with God requires honesty, and David’s life shows us that kind of friendship is possible. When we open our hearts and tell God what is really going on inside, it deepens our relationship with Him. Just as vulnerability builds trust in human relationships, it does the same with God. David’s psalm begins in sorrow but ends in worship. He starts with questions and ends with praise. That is what happens when we bring our real selves into God’s presence. He meets us there, and our hearts begin to heal.
Maybe you feel like God has forgotten you, or that your prayers have gone unanswered. Tell Him. Pour out your heart today and let Him know what you are carrying. He has not left you, and He welcomes your honesty. So stop hiding, and trust His unfailing love to meet you right where you are.
Reflection
- Why do you think we tend to hide our true emotions from God or others?
- What can Psalm 13 teach you about bringing your full self before God in prayer?
- How might honesty with God open the door to deeper peace and healing?
Prayer
Ask God to help you be honest with Him about what you are feeling, and thank Him that He meets you with love, not judgment. Pray for courage to bring your struggles to Him and to trust His goodness even when life feels hard.
Footnote
¹ Teresa of Ávila, The Book of Her Life, ch. 8, no. 5, in The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, vol. 1, trans. Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez (Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1976), 67.