Devotional: Make Room- You Don’t Have to Pretend
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
—1 Peter 2:1–3 (NIV)
There’s a quiet pressure many people feel when it comes to faith, even if they don’t always have words for it. It’s the sense that you should be doing better than you are. That by now you would be more patient, less reactive, past certain habits, or further along in your spiritual life than you actually are. And when that expectation isn’t met, it’s easy to assume something is wrong. So instead of being honest, we start to manage what others see. We keep conversations at the surface. We show up, but we don’t let anyone see what’s really going on underneath.
Peter speaks directly into that kind of environment when he tells believers to rid themselves of things like deceit and hypocrisy. These aren’t just personal struggles to overcome; they are relational barriers that prevent real community from forming. Hypocrisy, by its very nature, keeps people at a distance. It creates a version of ourselves that looks put together while hiding what is actually true. But the kind of growth God is working in us cannot happen in that kind of environment.
Instead of calling people to try harder or perform better, Peter gives a different picture. He says to crave what leads to growth. That language matters. Growth in the Christian life is not produced by pretending we’ve arrived but by honestly recognizing our need and moving toward what is true. It’s the difference between performing for approval and desiring transformation.
And this growth is not something God intends for us to experience alone. Throughout this passage, the emphasis is not just on individual change but on a shared life. The Holy Spirit does work in us personally, but He forms us collectively. That means the evidence of what God is doing in your life will often show up in how you relate to others. It will show up in honesty, in humility, in the ability to love others deeply without pretending to be something you’re not.
This kind of community doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentionality. It takes a willingness to move beyond surface-level conversations and into real relationship. It takes the courage to say, “I’m not okay,” or “I need prayer,” or “I’m struggling with this.” And while that can feel uncomfortable, it’s also where something real begins. Not instantly, and not perfectly, but steadily, over time.
The invitation here is not to get everything together before you show up. It’s to come as you are and allow God to do His work in you as you stay connected to Him and to others. You don’t have to pretend your way into growth. You can be honest, and trust that God is forming something in you that is deeper and more lasting than anything you could manufacture on your own.
Discussion Questions
Where do you feel pressure to present a version of yourself that isn’t fully honest?
How might honesty change your relationships within your church or community?
What does it look like for you to “crave” growth instead of trying to force it?
Who is someone you trust that you could begin to be more open with this week?
Prayer
God,
You see me fully, and nothing about me is hidden from You. Help me to live with that same honesty in my relationships. Give me the courage to let go of pretending and to step into real connection with others. Shape my heart to desire what leads to growth, and remind me that You are patient as You work in me over time. Thank You for not asking me to be perfect, but for inviting me to be transformed.
Amen.
Dig Deeper
Read: Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan
Scripture: James 5:16, Hebrews 10:24–25, Ephesians 4:25–32, 1 John 1:5–7, Galatians 6:1–2
Growth doesn’t come from pretending you’ve arrived.
It comes from being honest about where you are and staying open to what God is doing.
