There’s no need to pretend with God

Bethany Turner
Bachelor of Ministry and Theology (Honours) student
Avondale College of Higher Education

Sunday evening: the Jacaranda Banquet. Amazing evening. Everyone is happy—they’re laughing, smiling, posing for photos. The theme: masquerade. Outfits are breathtaking, but being surrounded by masks adds a new element—a friend starts chatting to me and I don’t recognise her! It gets me thinking.

This morning. I’m so tired today. I just sit with God feeling slow and stupid. I’m apologising for my dull concentration. Prayer time is difficult. How pathetic! Surely I ought to show more enthusiasm and attentiveness while talking to God!

Do you know the feeling? Someone is talking and you’re trying to look interested. You may be masking tiredness or—dare I say it—boredom.

Over the years, I’ve often felt the need to put on a certain face for God. There were options: I could put on the repentant, the pious, the enthusiastic or the reverent face. Sleepy, stressed, or distracted faces weren’t on that list.

Today, I stop short of putting on my pious face and come to God with my tired face. What’s the point of wearing a mask, anyway? God knows me. So, this morning, I just sit with Him, relax and whisper David’s song, “Father, you’ve examined my heart and you know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You always know what I’m thinking. You know I’m tired today. No matter where I go or what I’m experiencing, your hand guides me, and your strength supports me” (paraphrased from Psalm 139:1-2, 9-10).

There’s no need to pretend with God. We can tell Him we’re tired, stressed, confused or worried. He understands, and He always cares about how we’re feeling.

 

A solution to busyness

Bethany Turner
Bachelor of Ministry and Theology (Honours) student
Avondale College of Higher Education

Try this: start counting how many people tell you they’re “busy” when you ask them how they’ve been. I’m guessing it would be about nine out of 10 people in general and probably closer to 10 out of 10 people around Avondale right now.

If you’re like me, you’re already coveting a spare half an hour to waste (guilt free!). The other day, I caught myself trying to get through a reading and realising helplessly that my mind was too full to fit another word in. It’s when you get to the point where you’re rushing so much, you’re no longer getting anything done.

It reminded me of a recent class visit to a Buddhist temple. One of the women at the temple told me she starts every day with an hour of meditation, and she feels this gives her a sense of calm to meet the day.

That’s a great idea—particularly at times like this, when I feel anything but calm! Except I’d prefer to have the added bonus of unloading my problems on Someone bigger than me.

We might not have been the original intended audience, but I think God thought of us when he said, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10, NLT).

We need to stop what we’re doing right where we are and simply be and know. Be with God—wrapped in His presence. Know that He is the great I AM, who created time and holds all the wisdom of the universe in His hands.

Jesus says to all of us, with the deadlines and problems that harass us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).

Let’s just stop. Be still. Know that He is our God.