God Shows Up When You Stop Pretending

Devotional Text: Psalm 145:18 (NKJV)

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”

There’s a version of you that people see, and a version of you that only God truly knows. The “public you” smiles, gets things done, encourages others, and keeps moving - even when your own strength is quietly slipping through the cracks. But behind the image is a tired soul - the kind you don’t always talk about. Exhaustion you ignore. Hurt you push down. Worry you call “overthinking.” Sadness you categorise as “just one of those days.”

And yet, the Psalmist in Psalm 145:18, reveals a truth many believers forget: God doesn’t draw near to the polished you - He draws near to the truthful you. He comes close to the version of you that whispers, “I’m not okay.” He responds to the cry you pray at 2 a.m. in the early morning, when no one is around to hear or see you. He meets the weakness you try so hard to hide. You don’t have to pretend with God. He is not impressed by your strength or disappointed by your struggle. He moves toward truth, not performance.

You see, pretence drains you, but honesty frees you. Pretending isolates you, but truth invites Him in. Pretence exhausts the soul, but truth restores it. God cannot heal what you hide, and He cannot transform what you refuse to reveal. But the moment you stop acting strong and start speaking truth, something shifts. His nearness becomes real. His presence becomes tangible. His peace replaces your pressure.

God is not waiting for you to get yourself together. He is waiting for the moment you stop pretending long enough for Him to step in. Today, let this settle in your spirit: Your honesty with God is not a weakness - it is an access point. When you strip away the pretense, you create space for His healing presence.

Declaration

God meets me when I am honest. I no longer hide, pretend, or perform. His nearness is my strength.

Prayer for Today

Father, I come to You without pretending, without polishing, and without holding anything back. You see the places where I am tired, stretched, hurting, and overwhelmed. Draw near to me as I draw near to You in truth. Give me the courage to be honest with You and with myself. Heal what I have hidden. Restore what I have ignored. And let Your presence fill every place where I’ve been pretending to be strong. Wrap me in Your peace and make me whole again. Thank You that You hear me when I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Practical Application

• Find a quiet moment today.

• Sit still, close your eyes, and picture holding a mask in your hands - the mask you wear for people or even for God.

• Now imagine yourself setting it down at Jesus’ feet.

• Say out loud:“Lord, this is who I really am. Please meet me here.”

• Stay in that moment long enough to feel His nearness.

• Write down anything that comes to mind as you stay in His presence.

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