Have you ever talked to God a little too honestly?
I mean, the kind of prayer you want to apologize for afterward?
The kind where you think, Well, that probably wasn’t very holy?
Not because you swore. Not because you said something shocking.
But because you finally stopped editing yourself.
Because somewhere between the tears,
the frustration,
the confusion,
the loneliness,
the doubt,
and the weirdness of being human…
you got real.
You told God the truth.
Not the polished church version.
Not: “I’m blessed and highly favored.”
But:
“I’m jealous.”
“I’m angry.”
“I judged somebody.”
“I doubted You.”
“I’m exhausted.”
“I don’t even know who I am right now.”
“I want to trust You, but honestly, I’m struggling.”
That kind of prayer.
The prayer that crawls down into the dirt instead of trying to float above it.
Because authentic spirituality isn’t pretending to be clean all the time.
It’s learning that God can sit with us in the mud without flinching.
Sometimes we imagine God only wants the nice conversations.
“I went to church today.”
“I helped somebody today.”
“I prayed today.”
“I loved my enemy today.”
And yes…God delights in those things too.
But love that can only tolerate the polished parts of us isn’t really love.
Real love wants the whole story.
The messy parts.
The ashamed parts.
The confused parts.
The grieving parts.
The angry parts.
The doubting parts.
The dirt.
That’s what street-level spirituality really is.
Not God as an abstract idea floating above life. Not religion as merely memorizing doctrines about God.
But God as relationship. A living relationship.
The kind where nothing has to be hidden.
The kind where prayer becomes less like a performance and more like sitting on the porch at midnight pouring out your heart to someone who already knows how you feel because they’ve been there too.
Maybe bringing our whole selves to God isn’t spiritual failure. It’s a doorway.
Because when we stop hiding from God, something deepens. The relationship becomes real. It becomes intimate.
In-to-me-see.
Your Turn
Find a quiet place where you can be alone with God for a few minutes.
Take a few slow breaths.
Then bring to God whatever you’re struggling with right now.
Your frustration.Your anger.
Your shame.
Your doubt.
Your exhaustion.
Your confusion.
The thing you don’t like about yourself.
The thing you don’t like about someone else.
The thing you wish you could hide.
Don’t worry about hurting God’s feelings. God’s big enough to handle your honesty.
Speak to God as if you were sitting next to your best friend—someone who already knows you, loves you, and isn’t going anywhere.
Then sit quietly.
Ask God:
What are You inviting me to see in this struggle?
What virtue are You inviting me to grow on the inside?
How might this become a doorway into greater freedom, joy, and love?
Rest there for a few moments.
You don’t have to force an answer.
Just bring your honest self to God.
That’s where intimacy begins. In-to-me-see.
Have a blessed week.
Your friend in the flow,
brian
P.S. You’re invited! Join me for a fun, laid-back Divine Flow Book Launch Party on Zoom on Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m. Grab your favorite beverage, hop into your virtual kayak, and come float down the River of Divine Flow with me and a few friends as we share stories of hope, transformation, and experiencing God in everyday life.
Everyone who attends live will be entered into a drawing for some free gifts.
Hope to see you on the river! Here’s the link to RSVP: https://www.findingflowlife.com/divine-flow-launch-event
************************
An excerpt from my upcoming book:
Divine Flow: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Contemplation for Everyday Life
“One of the greatest gifts of the Divine Flow contemplative path is its gentle, spacious invitation. The four lifestyle practices—quiet time, spiritual reading, community, and spiritual gifts—aren’t rules to follow or boxes to check. They’re simply a framework, a container that can hold your unique rhythm, your way of being, your walk with God.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. Some people start with five quiet minutes in the morning. Others find themselves drawn to spiritual reading at night. Some discover community around a dinner table, a recovery group, or a text thread with trusted friends. You might uncover a spiritual gift you never thought was “spiritual”—like hospitality, encouragement, or creativity—and realize it’s one of the deepest ways God shines through you.
The beauty of these four practices is that you get to make them your own.”
If you pre-order Divine Flow before June 23 and email me your receipt to [email protected], I’ll send you these packages of bonuses worth over $50:
- The Divine Flow Journal and
- The Divine Flow Daily Reflections PDF
To learn more about my upcoming book Divine Flow: Click here
Links to Pre-Order:
************************
If you’re seeking a gentler start to your mornings—one you can carry with you into your day to find more inner peace—I invite you to join divineFlow Daily, a free short reflection and quote sent to your inbox each day. In under a minute, it’s meant to help you slow down, breathe, and remember what truly gives life before the noise sets in.
Sign up for divineFlow Daily here.
0 Comments