Can God Really Handle My Ugly Honesty?

I think most of us know there is a therapeutic nature in talking to someone, especially when our hearts are heavy and our minds are burdened. Unfortunately, when we feel like this, not everyone has access to someone they know and can trust with the ugly. By ugly I mean the raw and unfiltered thoughts and emotions racing inside our head and heart as we try to process the pain and difficulties of life. Perhaps you know or have heard that you can always talk to God, but the question then arises: Can we really be fully open, honest and transparent with Him?  Is there a limit on how much I can say or the way I need to frame my ugly, heartfelt thoughts and emotions without Him being mad at me? Simply put- can God really handle our ugly honesty?

I get asked these questions but I also have asked myself the same questions when life has kicked me around. It could be that someone has hurt me, hurt someone I loved, or a situation has not quite worked out the way I thought it should. Maybe I am suffering because of the mistakes I have made. These are just a few situations that can create a sea of mental and emotional anguish and talking to someone in open honesty is the only way out. Even though I have walked with God a very long time, I sometimes hesitate by wondering just how honest can I be before a Holy God when these things happen?

“Oh LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.” Psalm 139:1-4

These verses bring me peace as they remind me that God can handle my ugly honesty. There have been times in my life where the pain and suffering I faced caused me to be angry and question whether or not God was going to handle everything.  I don’t share this to glorify my raw anguish or emotions but rather to free someone else with this truth. My honesty before God is not a means by which I stay hostile to Him but rather a means by which I bring my heart and mind before Him, to love and esteem God for his love, kindness, goodness and faithfulness to me. The point in being honest with God is so God can be honest with us, and remind us of who He is and what He will do if we just trust Him with our life. God already has seen what’s inside our heart and mind, before we say or do anything. To withhold from Him our honesty is really kind of pointless.

So if you are feeling that slight hesitation in holding back your honest thoughts and emotions, I want to remind you He already knows. I have found no matter how many times I try to downplay, filter or suppress the honest truth, it never seems to get any better. So consider today towards a path of help, hope and healing by sitting with God in open and honest communication. I do not know what you are facing, but whatever it is, please know: God can handle your ugly honesty!