Calling on God in Truth. Psalm 145:18

Devon had grown tired of fake prayers. For years, his relationship with God had been surface-level — polite, rehearsed, and predictable. He attended church, said grace before meals, and even quoted scripture when it was convenient. But when life collapsed around him after a brutal divorce and the sudden death of his father, the shallow words no longer worked.

He stopped performing. He started crying out. That’s when God came near.

One night, sitting in the dark of his empty apartment, Devon finally broke. With nothing rehearsed and nothing left to lose, he called out to God in raw honesty. “I don’t even know if I believe anymore,” he whispered through tears. “But if You’re there… please don’t let go of me.” For the first time, it wasn’t a performance. It was a surrender. He was calling on God in truth!

Days passed. The pain didn’t vanish, but something inside Devon shifted. He began journaling honestly, not filtering anything — his doubts, rage, guilt, and regret. To his surprise, each time he brought his messy heart before God, he didn’t feel rejection. He felt closeness. He remembered the verse: “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

Devon began spending time each morning reading scripture — not out of duty, but desperation. Psalm 145:18 became his anchor. It reminded him that truth wasn’t about having all the answers — it was about coming to God without masks. And in that raw space, he discovered God’s presence was more real than he had ever known.

Devon didn’t lead with strength—he led with truth. And men followed.

Over time, his bitterness softened. Forgiveness crept in where anger had lived. He reconnected with his daughter, began therapy, and found a new church that welcomed people with broken edges. He was no longer trying to be the perfect Christian — he was just trying to be honest with a perfect God.

Devon started leading a small group for men who were also struggling — not with belief, but with being real. The group was called “Unfiltered,” and every session began with the same reminder: You don’t need to clean up to come to God. You just need to come.

His story became one of healing not through strength, but through sincerity. And it proved the truth of that ancient promise — that God draws near not to the polished, but to the honest.

When people asked him what changed his life, Devon would simply say, “I stopped pretending. And God showed up.”

"The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."

—Psalm 145:18 (NIV)