Have you ever had a moment where you just could not find gratitude in the moment no matter how much you tried? Whew, am I having a moment at this exact moment that I am sitting here writing this post. The guilt is eating me up internally. The inner conflict between my spirit and my flesh as I am praying to the Creator to please speak, because I am listening! Crickets, silence, hangs in the air like suspended wind. I try to plaster a smile across my face but whatever is lurking deeper
within is winning this battle because not even a smile is hiding my emotions. My faith is wavering pretty heavily right now, can faith and authenticity coexist? Is the Creator merciful enough to understand that I am having a human moment where I am not trying to be ungrateful. My heart feels heavy, my mind is weary, and I find myself battling the weight of stress. As a believer, I am always reminded to be grateful, but what happens when life's challenges make that difficult? I can't shake the feeling that I am disappointing God by feeling the way that I do, or am I disappointing myself?
These questions can easily leave us feeling conflicted and guilty, especially when we know deep down inside, we have so much to be thankful for.
How ironic, today I did an Instagram video encouraging the viewers to practice gratitude. God is this a test?
But here’s what I’m learning as I sit with these emotions—God welcomes our humanity. He isn't put off by our frustrations, doubts, or questions. In fact, I believe God prefers our honesty over a polished, forced smile. Maybe, just maybe, this raw moment is a deeper act of faith than we realize. To stand before God, vulnerable and authentic, is to trust that He can handle all that we are—not just our praise, but also our pain, confusion, and tears.
When I think about it, honesty itself is a form of faith. Why? Because it means I trust God enough to show Him all of me, the unfiltered version. It takes faith to say, "God, this is hard. I don’t understand. I’m struggling. I feel lost, and I need You." It takes faith to approach Him with our broken pieces, rather than pretending everything is fine. Whew talk about speaking into existence that authenticity is my superpower, God has a way of putting what we speak to the test! However,
faith isn’t about suppressing emotions; it’s about walking through them with God by our side. In fact, it's in these very moments—the ones where we feel stretched thin, where gratitude feels far off—where God often meets us the most. It’s in the messiness of our feelings that He reveals His heart to us.
The Psalms are full of these moments. David, a man after God's own heart, cried out in frustration, anger, and confusion time and time again. Yet, in his honesty, he always found his way back to God. It wasn’t about never feeling the weight of life, but about continually bringing that weight to God, trusting Him to carry it. I’m reminded of Psalm 62:8, which says: "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."
It doesn't say to hide how you feel or to only come to God when you’ve got it all together. It says to pour out your heart. That means everything—your joy, your pain, your gratitude, and even your frustration.
So, if you're like me, sitting here in the middle of your own emotional storm, know this: It’s okay to not be okay for a moment. It doesn’t make you less faithful, and it certainly doesn’t mean you're disappointing God. Instead, it means you’re human. It means you’re on the journey. And it means that even in your honesty, you are demonstrating your faith, because you're inviting God into your real, unfiltered moment.
So, how do we navigate these heavy emotions in a way that honors our faith without burying or bypassing them? It starts by acknowledging them. When we deny or suppress our feelings, they tend to build up, leading to burnout, resentment, or worse disconnection from God. But when we face them head-on, with honesty, we give God access to those places within us that need healing and renewal. I want to share with you 5 tools that I found myself having to utilize instead of allowing my emotions to make me feel that God had forsaken me. (this is a tactic used by the enemy!)
1. Name the Emotion. One of the first steps to navigating emotions is to name what you’re feeling. Sometimes, we walk around with a cloud over us, unsure of what’s really going on. Is it stress? Fear? Sadness? Frustration? Naming the emotion is powerful because it brings clarity and helps you understand what you’re carrying. Once it’s named, it can be addressed.
2. Pour Out Your Heart in Prayer. Once you've identified your emotions, bring them to God in prayer. Don’t hold back or try to sugarcoat it. Be real. Talk to Him like you would a trusted friend. Tell Him what's bothering you, what you’re afraid of, what’s weighing you down. He already knows, but there’s something liberating about offering those emotions to God. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." He cares deeply about every aspect of your heart, no matter how small or overwhelming it may seem.
3. Use Journaling as a Tool for Reflection. This is where journaling comes in as a powerful tool. Writing down your thoughts, feelings, and prayers allows you to process what’s going on internally. Sometimes, when our minds are racing, we can’t hear God’s still, small voice through all the noise. But journaling gives you the space to slow down, reflect, and make sense of the emotions swirling inside you. It’s also a place where you can record what God is speaking to you and see how He responds over time.
That’s why I offer journals and notebooks as tools for this very purpose. They’re not just empty pages—they're sacred spaces where you can be fully honest with yourself and with God. Use them to record prayers, scriptures that speak to you, or even just the raw feelings of your heart. Sometimes, the act of writing is all it takes to bring clarity and peace to your soul.
4. Surrender and Trust. After pouring your heart out and journaling, the next step is to surrender. Trust that God is with you in this process, and that He is working behind the scenes even when you can’t see it. Surrendering doesn't mean giving up; it means placing those emotions and concerns in God's hands and trusting Him to bring resolution in His timing.
5. Worship Through the Struggle. There’s something powerful about worshipping in the midst of our struggles. It shifts our focus from the problem to the One who is bigger than any problem we face. Worship reminds us of God's sovereignty, His goodness, and His faithfulness. Even if you don’t feel like it, even if the words are hard to say, worship is an act of faith that moves the heart of God. It’s a way of saying, “God, I trust You, even when things don’t make sense right now.
By navigating these emotions intentionally, we’re allowing ourselves to be fully human while keeping our eyes on the divine. Faith and emotional authenticity can coexist. We can struggle and still believe. We can feel the weight of life and still know that God is in control.
Thank you for sharing space with me today and allowing me to be vulnerable as I navigate this human moment.
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