“How may times do I have to yell, ‘Help! Murder! Police!’ before you come to the rescue?”

We claim to be God’s friends….but I think we’re afraid of him.

We talk to him when everything’s cool, singing to him and praising. We ask for help. But we fail to tell him what we really think.

What happens in a healthy friendship? If there’s conflict, it’s addressed. If you’re angered, you inform the other party. If something they did or didn’t say or do pissed you off, you tell them and resolve it with them.

Why don’t we do that with God?

Habbakuk does. In the opening verse above (Hab. 1:1, MSG), He challenges God, feeling like he’s being ignored. Abraham argues with God in Genesis 18, advocating for mercy upon Sodom. The Psalmists pour out their uncensored thoughts, expressing joy and trust, but also grief and doubt at other times.

“What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches” (Psalm 73: 11-12, MSG).

There is no attempt at sugar-coating anything in these passages. There is only sheer brutal honesty.

I see this honesty is something many Christians struggle with. We’re afraid of offending God, maybe. Or perhaps, we’re afraid of breaking a mold and appearing disrespectful; of being “bad” Christians. But by striving to appear as “good” Christians, we more often than not end up as posers. We deceive ourselves. And we limit our relationship with God. He knows everything- we can’t lie to him. But we can hurt him, and I believe we hurt him more when we try to lie about being OK than when we are honest enough to say, “God, I’m confused and I don’t get it” or “I’m angry at you and wanna sort this out.”

I have had a lot of doubts and questions for God, following broken friendships, deaths of loved ones, robberies, and, about a year ago, following the wreck that totaled my car. Yep- that's it in the picture. If I had only moved on, I would probably still carry bitterness and doubt now. But I dared ask questions of him.

Close friendships are messy and difficult, but if all parties involved are truly honest and willing to deal with issues that arise, then they work out. God always comes through. He doesn’t sugar-coat anything and he’s always willing to help you with anything and everything. But if we won’t admit we have a problem to begin with, how can he do that? Love doesn’t force itself on anyone. It waits to be invited.

Our false smiles and joyless laughter are leaving him waiting.