God’s Love Can Handle Everything that You’re Thinking, Feeling, and Experiencing
Talking to someone and getting things out can be extremely therapeutic and powerful.
It’s why as humans - and especially as women - we naturally want to discuss our lives with others in our sphere.
Yet sometimes, talking to another human - such as a friend, coworker, or family member - can be tricky. They might not fully understand what you’re going through or bring parts of themselves (or their own lives) into the conversation in a way that might not be helpful.
That isn’t the case with everyone, of course. There are those who are great listeners and are filled with Godly wisdom.
There’s also definitely wisdom in speaking to a professional - especially if you’re dealing with a deep depression or suicidal thoughts.
But in addition to all of that, the Creator of the universe is always willing to listen to you as you pour out your thoughts and emotions.
Despite what you may have heard or been taught, God longs to meet you in your struggles, trials, and messy moments.
His desire isn’t to blame you or judge you…but to be a safe place for you to get it all out and bask in His unconditional love.
This is true even if you’re feeling disappointed with Him or are confused or angry about what He’s doing. God wants to hear it all - and can take it all - because He deeply cares about you and your well-being.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG) says, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Psalm 18:6 (NLT) says, “But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.”
Psalm 34:15 (MSG) says, “God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.”
Friend, God is ready and willing to hear whatever it is you want to share with Him! Get it out!
Not only that, being God, He can (a) take it all, (b) keep it in the right perspective, and (c) give you the help you need in the way only He can.
After all, who knows you and your situation better than Him?
Exercise: Share it All With God
Moving forward, I want you to work on opening up to God and trusting Him with whatever you’re going through - no matter how messy or dark.
God is our one and only source of hope, so it’s important that we learn to lean into Him versus turning away during dark or challenging times.
Still, this might be completely new to you. I also realize that it might seem scary. But, in addition to Scripture, I can attest from my own 20+ year journey with God that He is the best listener you could ever have. He’s patient, kind, doesn’t get tired, and doesn’t get distracted like humans do, checking their phone or running off to the next appointment.
So, what practical steps can you take to start opening up more with God?
Tip: This is a process, so give yourself time and grace. Remember, you and God are developing a relationship which, like another other relationship, takes time and grows in healthy degrees.
Step 1: Decide how you want to talk to God (aka the method).
Prayer (aka talking to God) doesn’t have to be done in a specific way. You can talk out loud to Him (which is what I do) or silently.
You can also journal to Him if you’re more of a writer versus a verbal processor. (Not that God requires perfect speech. I’m often praying and working things out as I talk to Him.)
Decide on the best method to start with. You can always change it or do a combination of methods later if that works better.
Step 2: Decide when to talk to God each day.
If it feels intimidating to talk to God daily, or your life or living environment makes that difficult for you, that’s okay. I recommend doing it daily but, whatever frequency you choose, aim to keep it consistent.
Despite what you may have heard, there isn’t a “proper” time of day to pray/talk to God. It can be first thing in the morning or right before you go to bed. Select a time that works for you.
Step 3: Start with the basics.
If you’re comfortable with sharing the depths of your heart with God right off the bat, that’s great!
But if you’re not there yet, simply start with the basics. Share how your day went. What you enjoyed and what you struggled with. What you’re planning or looking forward to.
Picture yourself sitting down to a casual dinner with a friend or family member. Whatever you would share with them (that doesn’t go too deep), share with God.
Step 4: Implement, adjust, and grow.
Consistency leads to growth. Start off with your basic plan (Steps 1-3), making it a routine as much as possible.
The more time that you spend talking to God, the more you’ll experience change. You’ll feel more comfortable speaking to Him, moving from general topics to ones closer to your heart. You’ll also likely start to receive answers to things that you either specifically pray for or that God simply chose to address in His love for you.
You might also add in additional things such as reading the Bible or listening to Christian music…allowing God to speak to you as you speak to Him.
And remember, it’s okay to adjust your routine when needed. Seasons change, schedules change, and maybe even how you need to talk to God needs to change based on what you’re going through. That’s totally okay!