It’s Okay to Be Real: God Meets Us in Our Weakness

 



Listen, so many of us feel like we can’t be real. We feel like we can’t be vulnerable. Especially when you’re in ministry, there’s this unspoken pressure to always be strong, to always “show up” with a smile, and to give the appearance that everything is fine. But the truth is, sometimes everything isn’t fine.

If I can be honest with you, the last couple of weeks have been hard for me to “show up” and act like everything is together when, in reality, it isn’t. Before this past Sunday, I was showing up—but I was doing so out of obligation, not from a heart that was fully engaged with God. I felt bruised, battered, and spiritually worn down.

I’ve been pouring and pouring into others without taking the time to be poured into myself. My time with God has been shorter, quieter, and less intentional than usual, and because of that, I felt so far away from Him. Yet, I kept “showing up.”

But here’s what God is teaching me: you don’t always have to show up at your best. You don’t have to pretend that you are okay when you’re not. It’s okay to be human. It’s okay to say, “Lord, I am tired. I need You.”

The Power of Rest and Solitude

The Lord has been gently showing me the importance of rest. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites us:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

If Jesus Himself took time to rest and withdraw to pray (Luke 5:16), why do we think we can do life or ministry without it? There is a holy stillness that comes when we allow God to refill our souls. Rest is not laziness—rest is worship when it is done in Him.

Vulnerability Invites God’s Strength

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to admit our struggles, and to stop pretending we are unshakable, God steps in. Our weakness is not something to hide—it is the very place where God’s strength shines brightest.

It’s Okay to Not “Show Up” Sometimes

There are seasons when the most spiritual thing you can do is to pause. To step back. To let God handle what you cannot. We often believe we have to keep going, keep doing, keep “showing up” no matter what. But Psalm 46:10 says:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Sometimes the best way to show up for God is by resting in His presence and allowing Him to fight our battles.

You Are Not Alone

If you feel worn down, like you are giving from an empty cup, I want to encourage you today: you are not alone. Many of us are fighting the same invisible battles. Many of us are silently carrying heavy loads. But God sees. He knows. And He wants to carry the weight for you.

Take time this week to breathe. To be still. To cry if you need to. To say, “Lord, I don’t have it all together.” Because the truth is, He never asked you to have it all together—He asked you to abide in Him.

A Prayer for the Weary

Father, I come before You with an open heart. I am tired, Lord. I have been pouring out, and I feel empty. But I know You are my source of strength and my place of rest. Help me to slow down and sit in Your presence. Remind me that I don’t have to have it all together for You to love me. Fill me with Your peace, renew my strength, and teach me to trust You with the battles I cannot fight. Thank You for always being my refuge and my safe place. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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