Facing the Hidden Place
Do you ever feel like you’re hiding part of your life when you pray? You say the “safe” things, your praises, your “good” sins. Yet you leave the shadows untouched. The problem is real. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And I’ve learned that honest prayer matters. Because the God who created you already knows the hidden places. He isn’t surprised. He isn’t shocked. He’s ready to walk with you. And in this post, I’ll show you how to pray honestly, inspired by Psalm 139, and find freedom to grow.
Why We Hide When We Pray
First, let’s name the problem. Many of us talk to God about things we’re comfortable with. We confess sins that don’t embarrass us. We ask for help with the obvious. But we mute the deeper struggles. We tuck away the thoughts we’re ashamed of. The truth is: you don’t have to clean up your life before you talk to God. Scripture teaches that He already knows you thoroughly. For example, Psalm 139 begins: “You have searched me and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up…” That means nothing is hidden. And yet we act like we can pretend.
Because of this hiding, we stay stuck. The parts we don’t bring to God still hold power over us. They steal peace. They block growth. They keep our prayer life shallow. The remedy? Honest prayer.
What the Bible Says: Reading Psalm 139
Let’s look at what Psalm 139 teaches us.
-
Verses 1–6 show God’s intimate knowledge: He knows your every move, every thought.
-
Verses 7–12 show God’s presence: There is nowhere you can go away from Him.
-
Verses 13–18 show your creation: You are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
-
Verses 23–24 are a prayer: “Search me, God, and know my heart… see if there is any offensive way in me.”
So you see: God doesn’t ask you to hide. He invites you into clarity. He invites you to bring the whole you.
Storytime: A Reality Check
Let me tell you a story. Sarah (name changed) came to me one day at a small church gathering. She had been praying for years. Yet she felt “stuck.” She realized her prayers always went like: “Help me with my job. Thank you for my family. Forgive me for the small things.” But never the bigger fears. Never the ugly thoughts. She was ashamed of something she thought God didn’t want to hear. When she finally asked God: “Search me, show me what I’m hiding,” she felt lightness. She confessed that hidden fear. She told God her shame. Then she sensed a shift. Growth began. Her prayer life became honest. And her relationship with God deepened.
You might be in Sarah’s shoes. You might be praying, but still holding back. That’s the gap we’re aiming to close.
How to Pray Honestly — Step by Step
Now let’s get practical. Use these steps to bring honesty into your prayer life.
Step 1: Invite God to search your heart
Begin by echoing Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Invite the Holy Spirit to bring things to light. Don’t rush. Sit quietly. Be open.
Step 2: Listen for what surfaces
After you pray, listen. Maybe a memory, a feeling, a thought pops up. That’s not accidental. God can bring a hidden thing to mind. When it does, don’t ignore it. Write it down.
Step 3: Confess what you see
Then bring it to God. Name it. “Father, I confess this fear. I confess this hidden resentment. I bring it to You.” You don’t have to clean it up first. You just bring it. Because He already knows.
Step 4: Ask for transformation
Then ask: “Lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:24) Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through the change.
Step 5: Thank Him for faithfulness
Finally, thank God that He is faithful. That He isn’t shocked. That He walks with you. That honesty will lead to freedom.
Quiz: How Honest Is My Prayer?
Let’s do a quick, interactive quiz. Choose “Yes” or “No” for each question:
-
Do I regularly pray only for the things I’m comfortable admitting?
-
Do I avoid speaking out loud or writing down the shameful or hidden parts of my life?
-
Have I ever asked God to show me what I’m hiding?
-
Do I receive His correction or invitation without resisting?
-
Do I feel lighter, freer after confessing hidden thoughts or sins to Him?
Survey Results:
-
If you answered “Yes” to 1 or 2: You likely need to bring more honesty into your prayer life.
-
If you answered “No” to 3 or 4: You may be resisting God’s invitation to search and lead you.
-
If you answered “Yes” to 5: You’re seeing the benefit of honest prayer. Keep going!
Why This Matters for Your Spiritual Growth
When you pray honestly, you move from hiding to healing. Hiding keeps you stuck. Honest prayer opens the door to God’s mercy and transformation. The writer of Psalm 139 knew this. He asked for God to search him and lead him. And that prayer applies to us now. When we hide, growth slows. When we bring all parts of us, light and shadow, to God, we allow Him to work. We invite renewal. We step into the fullness of the spiritual life He wants for us.
Final Encouragement
So today, take a moment. Quiet your heart. Invite God in. Say: “Search me and know me.” Be honest. Let Him bring to mind what you’ve kept hidden. Then turn it over to Him. Receive His forgiveness. Receive His direction. He is faithful. He is merciful. He already knows and already loves you—just as you are. And when you pray honestly, you’ll begin to walk in the freedom that comes from being fully known and fully loved.
May this journey of honest prayer lead you deeper into the heart of God.
Please subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@PossibilityPluspm for inspiring videos