"An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips"

- Proverbs 24:26

When I first became a Christian at camp a few years ago, I was so excited to live my life for Christ. However, as soon as I got home, the reality set in: I had to show God every part of my life, the good and the bad. I was ashamed of all of my weaknesses and insecurities, so I vowed to first clean up my life before I gave myself to God 100%. I thought that maybe if I was prettier, partied less, a better friend, excellent sister, smarter student, etc. then people would want to hear about God from me, and I could really commit to Christ. I felt like I wasn't good enough to be a Christian yet. Needless to say, nothing went as planned. All of my efforts were taking me farther from God. I finally realized how ridiculous I was being. I thought God was demanding perfection when He was really just asking for me…all of me. The one he already knew and loved.

What exactly did I think I was hiding from Him? God already knew me better than I could ever know myself. Like Faith in the play, I was so sure I was doing what was best that I never even considered asking God. Scared and embarrassed, I avoided having a real relationship with God for so long at a time when I needed Him so much. Before I could ever hope to live my life for God, I had to stop pretending and just get real with Him.

Earlier this year I heard this message echoed at a funeral. My friend passed away after a year long struggle with cancer. At Kyle's funeral his mom talked a lot about how his sickness finally brought him to Christ. One time while Kyle was in the hospital, he began to reach his arms up to feel closer to Christ. He didn't have the strength to lift his arms very far though. His mother and another friend both took hold of an arm to make a big gesture with them, but Kyle immediately tried to pull his arms back protesting, "No, it's not authentic!"

Kyle knew that God demands us to stop pretending and be real. He didn't care how high or wide Kyle's arms were stretched open to Him, just that they were.

Check out some Psalms by David, a servant of the Lord who messed up a lot but wasn't scared to hide it from God!

Psalm 22

Psalm 32

Psalm 139

-- Rachel Bauslaugh