Facade is the suburban disease. We all have a tendency to project a veneer of perfection in all areas of life. We want to mold the way people think about us and often times that means not being ourselves. For some crazy reason we try to fool God with that veneer as well. Ludicrous isn’t it? Somehow we think we can fool our all-knowing and all-powerful God into believing some rouse about our true feelings and/or actions.
I’m neck deep into a well neglected book of the Bible called Habakkuk. I’ve been studying, reading, and praying through this book in an effort to stretch myself and in turn be used by God to stretch others. I feel like I am constantly encouraged by the relevancy within every single book of the Bible…. even Habakkuk! The book begins with these words from Habakkuk –
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.
He is not pulling any punches. Our friend ‘Haby’ is letting the gates of his emotional swell explode forward. He isn’t trying to hide what he feels or what he thinks. He is laying bare, in complete honesty and authenticity, exactly what is on his heart.
I remember when my wife and I began dating and things turned serious. I remember being outside sitting on a trampoline at her Dad’s house having that pivotal conversation of extreme honesty. We shared honest feelings, mistakes, regrets, and victories. We chose to tear away even the slightest presence of any veneer that might have been present in the earliest days of our relationship. At that moment we were completely honest with each other. I can remember our relationship deepening beyond expectation that through that conversation. It set a precedent for honesty and depth that has been with us for over 13 years. Can you imagine what your relationship with God would look like if you were willing to let go of the facade?
I am confident that God desires complete honesty in our relationship with him. In Luke 22:39-46 we see a deep honesty and authenticity modeled by Jesus as he is speaking to his Father. Have you constructed a facade the limits the honesty of your prayer life? Would you be willing to be completely honest before God with all of your feelings, hurts, thoughts, and questions?