God isn't a facebook friend

If God were your friend on Facebook, what would you share?  Smiling pictures, family milestones, maybe a few words of thanks? Most of us only share the good things on social media. We want to look okay—even when we’re not.

Sometimes we treat prayer like social media. We come to God with our “best posts”—thank-yous, polite confessions, and carefully worded requests. We pray about the good things, the things we think we should say: gratitude, petitions for others, prayers for peace, justice, courage, or strength to face a personal struggle.

All of these are wonderful ways to communicate with God—and the kinds of prayers we might even feel comfortable sharing on social media. But prayer isn’t about impressing God or managing appearances. It’s about relationship—real, honest, sometimes messy relationship.

And some days you’re just so angry, hurt, frightened or disappointed that you don’t think you can pray. Maybe you haven’t been there yet—but chances are, someday you will be.

Here’s the good news: you can still pray.

Prayer doesn’t have to be neat, polite, or perfectly worded. Some of the most faithful prayers in Scripture are raw, honest, and even desperate – sometimes angry or questioning.  “How long, O Lord?” (Psalm 13) and “Why have you forgotten me?” (Psalm 44) are as much prayers as “The Lord is my shepherd.”

Psalm 44 pours out grief and frustration over suffering and defeat; Psalm 73 wrestles with envy and doubt; Moses, called by God to lead a people who constantly grumbled, cried in frustration “Lord, why have you sent me?”; Job, in the midst of unimaginable loss, questioned God boldly and painfully. And even Christ Himself, as he suffered on the cross, cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”. 

God hears our doubts, our anger, our sorrow, and our fear, just as much as the songs of praise and thanksgiving. Your honesty, no matter how messy or raw, is exactly what God wants in a relationship with you.

So, whatever you need to say to God, say it. God can take it. And the best part? God won’t unfriend you. God knows the photos that have been touched up and those didn’t get posted, the words you didn’t say, the tears you didn’t show. There is no anger or honesty that will drive God away. And there is nothing you can say that will make God stop loving you. You are that deeply and steadfastly loved.

And right there, in the middle of the mess, God listens, and God stays.