Praying the Truth

“We should bring to God what is in us, not what ought to be in us.  The “oughts” will keep us from telling the truth.  They will also keep us from feeling the truth.  Especially the truth about our pain.”  C. S. Lewis

I felt myself breathe a huge sigh when I read this.

There is a conflicting tension we face as leaders where we want to lead authentically but yet oftentimes it’s not appropriate for us to wear our every emotion visibly.  Those we lead are counting on us for strength, encouragement, hope and belief.  If we visibly give in to every doubt, fear and concern we have we wouldn’t generate a lot of confidence among those we lead.

But because of that responsibility we can be tempted to do the same thing in our time with God.  We pray the right things rather than pray the honest things.

C.S. Lewis goes on to describe how Jesus prayed as he neared his death…

“We are told he agonized with ‘loud crying and tears (Hebrews 5:7).  We are also told that he fell to the ground, where he prayed fervently and profusely (Luke 22:44).”

When is the last time  you cried out to God like that?  Are you praying what you think you ought to be praying or are you being honest and vulnerable with the one who doesn’t need you to have it all together?