Real Talk

When we take a closer look at what it really means to have honest conversations with God, we find plenty of real-life moments woven throughout Scripture. Whether it's Moses wrestling with leadership in Numbers (11:11-15), Jonah running in the opposite direction in Jonah (1:1-3), Gideon second-guessing everything in Judges 6:36-40, or Elijah reaching the end of himself in 1 Kings 19:4-18—these stories are full of raw, personal exchanges with God.

In Numbers 11, we see Moses, a deeply faithful leader, laying his frustrations out before God with complete honesty. It's not polished or put together—it's real. That kind of transparency shows us that our own messy moments aren't too much for God. Then there's Jonah, who didn't just hesitate—he flat-out ran the other way. His story reminds us that sometimes, obedience can feel overwhelming, and questioning God's plan is a natural part of our humanity. In Gideon's case, his back-and-forth with God in Judges 6 shows how normal it is to need reassurance. He asked for signs, not out of rebellion but because he was trying to wrap his mind around what God was asking. And Elijah? His emotional crash in 1 Kings 19 is something many of us can relate to. Feeling alone, drained, and unsure of what's next, he poured it all out before God, and God met him there.

There's a common belief that our prayers have to sound a certain way—stiff, formal, maybe even rehearsed. However, the truth is that God isn't looking for performance; He's looking for connection. Think about Jesus in the garden, just before the cross. In Matthew 26:39, He prays with complete honesty: "My Father, if it is possible, do not give me this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want." There's no pretending there—just vulnerability.

God invites us to the same openness. We don't need perfect words or the right setting. We can talk to Him in the car, during a workout, or over a cup of coffee. The invitation is to come as we are—no filters, no fluff. Our everyday thoughts, concerns, hopes, and even the little things matter to Him.

When we show up authentically, something shifts. Our relationship with God deepens. We stop performing and start connecting. In that space, we can be fully known and still fully loved. We bring our gratitude, our questions, our pain, our joy—and we find that He's listening through it all.

So let's lean into this kind of honest, unfiltered communication with God. Let's make room for real talk—because He's not only listening, He's walking with us through every part of it.