Pray Without Filters: Bringing Your True Self to God
Many times, when we pray, we feel the need to censor our emotions, as if God cannot handle the weight of our feelings. We suppress our anger, hide our frustrations, and offer only polished words, thinking that is what God desires. But true prayer is not about appearing perfect before God; it is about bringing our whole selves—unfiltered and real—into His presence.
God is not intimidated by our struggles. He invites us to be honest about our pain, disappointments, and even our doubts. If you are feeling anger toward your spouse, overwhelmed by the thought of separation, or weighed down by negative emotions, tell Him. If you wrestle with envy, struggle with lust, or find yourself feeling spiritually distant, do not hold back. The secret place of prayer is where we lay down our masks and expose our raw humanity before a God who understands.
When sorrow grips your heart, when depression lingers, or when grief seems unbearable, remember—God sees it all. If you have ever been so exhausted that you have thought about giving up, He knows that pain too. There is nothing in your heart that God cannot comprehend.
Matthew 21:18 says, “Early in the morning, as Jesus was on His way back to the city, He was hungry.” This simple statement carries profound truth. Often, we focus on Jesus’ divinity—His miracles, His authority, and His power as the Son of God. But here, Matthew highlights something equally significant: Jesus was human.
The reality of the hypostatic union—the full divinity and full humanity of Christ—reminds us that Jesus experienced life as we do. He felt hunger, exhaustion, betrayal, loneliness, and frustration. He walked through the struggles and heartaches we face, and because He lived as we live, He understands what we go through.
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When we pray, we are not speaking to a distant deity who cannot relate to our pain. We are approaching a Saviour who has walked in our shoes, felt the sting of human suffering, and knows the weight of our burdens. Jesus’ earthly life was filled with moments of hardship, yet He remained without sin. He endured rejection, faced betrayal, and wept in sorrow, proving that He truly understands the human experience.
Since Jesus understands our humanity, we do not need to sanitise our prayers or pretend we are fine when we are not. We do not need to mask our frustrations or hide our disappointments. If you feel distant from God, tell Him. If you are questioning your faith, admit it. Also, if you are frustrated because your prayers seem unanswered, express that to Him. God can handle your honesty.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). We have a High Priest, Jesus, who is intimately acquainted with every struggle we face. He experienced life in its full complexity but remained sinless. Because of this, we can come to God freely, without fear or shame.
Prayer is not about saying the right words or appearing strong before God. It is about surrendering fully—broken, tired, frustrated, and vulnerable. God already knows what is in our hearts. He sees our pain before we speak it. He understands our burdens before we explain them. So why hide? Why hold back?
There is no emotion too messy, no doubt too unsettling, and no struggle too great that God cannot handle. When you pray, do not filter your emotions to sound more acceptable. Be real. Be raw, and be honest.
The next time you are hurting, do not withdraw from God. Run to Him. He is not looking for perfection; he is looking for authenticity. Whether you are grieving, struggling with sin, feeling lost, or just exhausted, bring it all before Him.
He has been there. He knows. And He is waiting for you to come as you are—unfiltered, broken, and fully known.
Content Credit| Agbetan Bisola
Picture Credit | https://laycistercians.com/
