Pouring it Out: Emotional Truth-telling

“How are you really doing today—emotionally, mentally, and physically?”

It’s the question my digital journal asked me the other day. I love this feature. It nudges me to pause, check in, and respond with intention to the journaling prompt of the day. Most days I do. I pour out my thoughts into that space, grateful for its quiet, nonjudgmental presence.

But today, as I stared at the prompt, I remembered how long it took me to become someone who could answer a question like that honestly—even in prayer.

When I was younger, especially as I was growing into my faith, I started to believe that “maturity” meant silence. Not just silence toward others, but toward God. I thought being strong in the Lord meant not complaining, not feeling too deeply, and certainly not being dramatic with your emotions. I believed faith looked like smiling through pain, praying pretty prayers, and hiding anything that looked like struggle.

But I don’t think that’s what God ever asked of us.

Because when I open my Bible and read through the Psalms, I find a different picture. David—warrior, worshipper, king—doesn’t hold anything back. He feels deeply. He speaks freely. He cries openly. He wrestles with God, questions Him, praises Him, pleads with Him.

David doesn’t edit his emotions before coming into God’s presence. He brings his whole heart—and that has become such a powerful example for me.

I’ve also been watching Sweet Magnolias recently (yes, all the episodes), and let me just say—some of my favorite scenes are when the three friends sit down together, margaritas in hand, and pour it out. Whatever is going on—good, bad, complicated—they make space to say it out loud. It’s cathartic. It’s healing. It’s honest.

We need that kind of space in our lives.

And while good friends and late-night chats are a gift, I’ve learned something else too: even the safest community can’t offer the same soul-deep healing as pouring your heart out before the Lord.

If you haven’t knelt in prayer and let your words tumble out unfiltered…

If you haven’t cried and questioned and let God hold the mess of your heart…

You may still be waiting on the kind of release that only He can give.

Faith doesn’t mean just saying everything is fine.

It means trusting God with the truth.

Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s raw.

Even when we think He might not want to hear it.

The beautiful truth? He does want to hear it.

He invites us to cast all our cares on Him, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

He is not intimidated by our feelings. He is not weary of our tears. He is not surprised by our emotional honesty.

He welcomes it. He meets us there. And in doing so, He brings healing.

A Reflection and a Prayer

So today, don’t hold back.

Take time to answer the question “how are you really doing?”

Let your words come out messy and unedited.

Trust that the God who made your heart can handle what’s inside it.

Lord,

You know me fully, and still You ask:

“How are you really doing today?”

You don’t ask for performance. You ask for presence.

So here I am—tired in some places, hopeful in others.

Grateful, but carrying things I haven’t dared to name.

Help me to be honest with You.

To pour out my heart like water before You,

Knowing that You won’t reject me or rush me through my process.

Thank You for being the kind of God who listens deeply,

and loves me still.

Amen.

We were never meant to carry it all alone—or bottle it all up.

So go ahead—pour it out.

God is already there, ready to receive every word.

Grace and courage,

M.