My youngest came home from school SPICY the other day. Upset, displeased, and generally just the biggest crab apple on the tree. Instead of chatting like we usually do, she grabbed my computer and hammered the keyboard. Cue the following Google doc conversation:
Her: Mother. I am not in the mood to listen to you right now. So once you’ve read this whole thing you get 5 minutes of my full attention. Now I’m still ANGRY that I have to listen altogether so I might be a little going like “UGHHHHHHHH” But okay! >:(
Me: Daughter. Thank you for your honesty. I am also not in the mood to give you a lecture and really hope you can just listen to me without going UGGGGHHHHHHHHH. But okay! I do need you to do a decent job on your room before you settle in for your relaxing evening. This means dirty clothes in the basket for me to wash, and things really nice and picked up before we leave for the weekend. Please, thanks, you’re welcome, gracias, adios, and goodbye.
Her: I HAVE ONE MORE STATEMENT. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. THANK YOU. -SILENT TREATMENT…-
I laughed. Hard.
But then I thought, why don’t we approach God with flat-out honesty like that? “I don’t feel like talking. Yes, I’m aware I should be listening, praying, obeying, or something at the moment. But can I just take a minute and let you know how I really feel?”
We’ve got a warped perspective that God only wants to be near us when we’ve got our act together and are doing all the things a good little Christian should do. But He wants a relationship with you…not your mask. Not the version of you with the perfectly worded prayers, the tamed emotions, and the cleaned-up messes. The real you that runs to Him, lays it all on the table, and tells Him what’s really going on under the surface.
After all, you’re not telling God something he doesn’t already know. But He still wants to hear it! Because surrendering the perfectly airbrushed version of ourselves helps us. When we show him the raw, ragged edges, we’re saying we believe in His unconditional love and trust His promises. And with that faith, He can help. He can heal. And He can light up the darkest parts of us to reveal every crack and cobweb that holds us back from living a joyful, abundant life.
God loves you, warts and all. And He’s just waiting for you to tell Him how ticked off you are about the warts. So take a few minutes today to get honest with Him. Say it, scream it, write it down – whatever it takes to get all the ugly and unpolished stuff off your chest.
Because you can show up imperfectly and still be perfectly loved.
