More and more people seem to be going through difficult times these days. Have you noticed? Almost everyone I know is struggling in one way or another. While visiting with a hurting friend just last week our conversation turned to God. We talked about how He wants us to come to Him just as we are ~ mess and all.

Reflecting on that conversation later, I was reminded of the old “Come as You Are” parties of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Does anyone else remember those impromptu events? A neighbor or friend would call with a last minute invitation to a party that usually started within the hour. Everyone was supposed come exactly as they were ~ no changing clothes, no putting on makeup, no cleaning up.

Some people would fully participate in the fun and come in pajamas with old-fashioned curlers in their hair, or in overalls and a tee shirt covered in what seemed to be more blue paint than could possibly be on the wall of their son’s bedroom. But some would say, “Oh yes, I’ll come as I am!” and then go change clothes, fix their hair, or put on makeup not wanting anyone to see them “just as they are.”

I’m not too sure Come as You Are parties would be much of a hit these days. If we’re honest, I think most of us would lean toward hurrying to get presentable before going to the event. We don’t like to let anyone see the “messy” side of us, do we? We try to cover up not only our wrinkled or blemished skin and those ten extra pounds we’ve put on, but we strive to conceal our internal messes as well. You know, the pain we’re feeling as we try to work through a difficult marriage, or the fear we try to hide as we act “brave” about our health issues.

We try to hide all those things with our “party” faces or our quick “I’m just fine, thank you very much!” response when a friend inquiries about how we are doing. Somehow we seem to think that others don’t face the same struggles and issues that we do. So we try not to look weak or seem like a complainer. We have become very good at pretending. We don’t come to anyone just as we are ~ not to our friends, our family, or our Father God.

Yet God invites us to do exactly that … to come as we are! He loves to wrap His arms of love around our neediness and be the strong, sure, solid rock that we long for when our lives have become a mess ~ again. That’s an extrememely difficult truth for us to believe though. We live in a world where strength is almost worshiped. We are taught to buck-up, to put on our big girl panties, or to be a man and deal with problems on our own! Yet how many of us, if we are really truthful with ourselves, have come to the point in life where we simply can’t do it on our own anymore. Some of us wouldn’t know where to find our “big girl panties” if we tried! That is when the transforming power of God’s amazing invitation can change our lives!

The God of the Universe ~ the One who created you, who knows every hair on your head, says “Come to me just as you are. I will give you all you need to get through this.” He invites us to bring everything to Him, to lay it all at the foot of the Cross, and then to rest in the promise of His continual care and provision.

When we finally come to Him exactly as we are with our fears, our insecurities, and all the mess we are unable to free ourselves from on our own, God takes those burdens on His shoulders and sets us free. He gives us all we need to get through anything we face, but we have to be willing to come as we are ~ mess and all.

Let’s stop pretending to be OK when God already knows our weaknesses, and longs for us to give our cares to Him. One of my favorite Amy Grant songs, “Better Than a Hallelujah,” talks about how much our loving Father desires to hear our heartfelt cries. You can click here to listen to all the words, but this is the chorus:

Amazing! When our hearts are breaking, our honest cries are even sweeter to God’s ears than words of praise.

God has invited you to His ultimate “Come as You Are” party. How will you respond? Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Mathew 11:28-30 NLT)