Our relationship with God must surpass mere sacrifice and ritual; our prayers and conversations must be genuine. Personally, I struggle with reading prayers; I find the artificial eloquence in group prayers wearisome. God desires authenticity from us; He wants us to keep it real! God desires genuine, deep relationships with us, rather than superficial ones.
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part, You will make me know wisdom.” Psalm 51:6
God cares deeply about our inner lives and desires our honesty and transparency. He invites us to bring our doubts, fears, and frustrations before Him, knowing that He will meet us with compassion and understanding. God’s probing questions challenge us to confront our emotions and attitudes, leading to greater self-awareness and spiritual growth.
Starting with Adam and Eve, after they ate from the forbidden fruit, God asked Adam, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9), not because He didn’t know their physical location, but to prompt them to reflect on their spiritual state and the consequences of their actions. When Elijah was hiding in a cave on Mount Horeb, God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9), encouraging Elijah to consider his fear and discouragement in light of God’s power and presence. When Hagar fled into the wilderness, an angel of the Lord asked her, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (Genesis 16:8).
In many of the Psalms, David pours out his emotions before God, asking probing questions that reflect his inner struggles. For example, in Psalm 22:1, he cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?” This heartfelt question reveals David’s anguish and desire for God’s presence. Elijah did not keep his emotional state of despair and exhaustion from God (1 Kings 19:4).
Individuals in the Bible often express their deepest emotions and questions before God, demonstrating the depth of their relationship with Him and His willingness to engage with them in their struggles.
Consider the interactions between God and Cain as well as Jonah. Cain’s countenance had fallen because his offering was not accepted, and God gently asked him, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?” (Genesis 4:6). Through this question, God invited Cain to examine his emotions and the root cause of his anger. Similarly, when Jonah expressed anger over the sparing of Nineveh, God asked him, “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4), prompting Jonah to reflect on his feelings and motivations.
Are there areas where we need to confront our emotions and attitudes? Are there doubts or fears that we need to bring before God in prayer? May we embrace God’s invitation to deeper self-reflection and find comfort in His unfailing love and grace.
Dear God, thank you for your gentle probing questions that invite us into deeper reflection and reveal profound truths about ourselves and our relationship with you. Help us to confront our emotions and attitudes honestly, knowing that you meet us with compassion and understanding. May we find comfort and strength in your unfailing love and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk