I love Jesus, but I cuss a little.
I try to keep it in check and only let out those less than lady-like librettos when absolutely necessary; but the thing is that sometimes, there just are no other words than the cuss words.
Ok, fine. There are other words. There just aren’t always words that give me the same catharsis.
I tend to cuss most often when I’m angry or upset. There’s just something less effective about words like “stinkin” and “freakin” when your emotions are at their boiling point. The valve doesn’t release quite as well with “crap” and “shucks,” ya know?
I sometimes feel like I’m crossing the boundary of profanity, however, when I use it in prayer.
My most recent prayer started like this:
“God, I’m not sure what to do with this $h*t.”
I continued on speaking to God like I speak to my best friend. I tried to avoid using the F-bomb, but it likely came out once or twice.
I did apologize for my lack of couth and I just have to tell you, I’m pretty sure I got the soul wink from Heaven.
Even God understands that sometimes certain words just fit. I’m not saying He condones cussing or enjoys it in my prayers; but I think it’s probably like what happens when our babies repeat a potty word they’ve picked up from us on accident. We sort of cringe and correct them, but some part of us is also laughing and winking (depending on the word and its usage, of course.)
I share this with you because I think sometimes there’s an idea surrounding prayer that it all has to be formal and eloquent. That we have to know what we’re doing and sound good doing it.
I know that because I used to believe it. It often stopped me from praying altogether.
There’s an idea of what a “good prayer” sounds like. A way we are supposed to speak when we speak to the Heavens. While I do believe we should have reverence when we speak to God, I believe He cares more about that we talk to Him, not how we talk to Him.
I believe God would rather hear anything from us than nothing; and I’m quite confident He can deal with our occasional cuss words, even in prayer.
