God wants your heart, even if your heart is a mess

3 min read

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Proverbs 4:23

You ever feel like your body is showing up for life, but your heart isn’t? You’re going through the motions, maybe even talking a good game, but deep down in your core, you’re not feeling it?

For most of us, this is a very familiar experience. Way too familiar.

If this is where you find yourself today, with a heart that is just not into it, here’s something that may help.

God Knows Your Heart

There is a scene in the Bible, from the Book of Isaiah, where God describes what had become of his people. He says about them,

“They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Isaiah 29: 13.

Ouch.

If I’m honest, I would have to say this sounds like my heart sometimes…far from God. Even though I placed my trust in Jesus a long time ago and have a personal and fulfilling relationship with him, sometimes my heart drifts off to nowhere in particular.

Of course, I wouldn’t normally admit it. That would be way too embarrassing. So instead, I just talk as if things are “good.” I keep honoring God with my lips, even while my heart is far from him.

Your Code

But what we learn from Isaiah (and Jesus) is that God knows it when what is coming out of our mouths does not match up with what is in our hearts. In other words, he is aware when we are bluffing.

So why do we bother to pretend?

Because we’re human, that’s why.

When our hearts are cluttered full of fear, anxiety, selfishness, and noise, it’s natural to try to avoid God. Rather than deal with the core issues, it seems easier just to talk the talk.

But what I forget (or ignore) in those moments is that God knows my heart. He sees me. He knows me. I forget that he has the passcode to my deepest and most secret places. Hiding isn’t an option.

And it isn’t necessary.

It dawns upon me that the best thing I can do is open up to him and say, “Here’s my heart, Lord. It’s not in good shape today, but it’s all yours. I’m sorry for avoiding you. I need you right now.”

It’s funny, in that same moment, when I offer up my heart to the Lord in its as-is condition, I find that my heart is back in it. How so? Because a heart opened up before God – no matter how wrecked – is a heart that is close to God. He will always be drawn to those who trust him enough to say what’s really going on within them.

Is your heart not in it today? If so, there’s no need to say otherwise. God knows. So, do this instead: say to him what’s really going on within you. Describe as best you can where your heart is, even if it makes you a bit uncomfortable. You’ll see, he will gently meet you in that space.

Did you do it? Congratulations! You just took a huge step toward getting your heart back into it. Good on you.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.