Raw and Real: The Power of Authentic Faith
John 1:42 (NIV):"And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter).
Lately, I’ve been watching The Chosen, and I find myself deeply drawn to Peter. Peter has always stood out to me, perhaps because of his raw authenticity. He was the "Knuck If You Buck" disciple—ready to fight, unfiltered, and passionate. But what I love most about Peter is that he didn’t approach Jesus with a mask. You always knew what Peter was thinking. He was real about his emotions, his fears, and even his frustrations.
Peter’s unfiltered nature sometimes made him temperamental, but God saw beyond that. God took this raw, authentic man and renamed him—calling him Peter, which means "rock." What strikes me is that Peter himself struggled with this name change. While others might have eagerly embraced a new identity, Peter wrestled with what it meant to be called something he didn’t yet feel like he was.
In reflecting on Peter’s journey, I see parallels in my own life and perhaps in yours too. How often do we desire God to do something incredible in and through us, yet we hesitate to be real with Him about what’s truly on our hearts? We mask our emotions, holding back our fears and frustrations, perhaps afraid that they’re too much or too messy for God.
But here’s the truth: in order for us to become the most authentic version of who God has called us to be, we have to be honest and dependent on Him. God will place us in situations and allow circumstances that reveal who we really are. If our hearts reflect God, we’ll produce the oil of His anointing. But if not, He’ll wrestle with us until our oil—our essence—becomes what He desires, not something shaped by our own wishes.
God’s anointing is the key that unlocks our true identity, allowing us to be the most authentic versions of ourselves. It’s in the anointing that our raw, unfiltered selves are transformed into vessels of purpose, filled with His power and presence. As we surrender our fears, frustrations, and masks to Him, His anointing flows through us, refining us, and shaping us into the people He’s called us to be.
Just as Peter was transformed from a passionate fisherman into the rock upon which the church was built, we too are transformed by God’s anointing. It is this anointing that allows us to live authentically, not bound by our past identities or the expectations of others, but fully embracing who God says we are. In His anointing, we find the freedom to be real, to be vulnerable, and to be fully ourselves—loved, chosen, and called by God.
Reflection Questions:
How do you respond when God calls you something you don’t yet feel like you are, just as Peter wrestled with his new name?
Are there situations in your life where God is revealing your true self? How is He shaping your "oil" to reflect His desires rather than your own?
What steps can you take to remove the mask and approach God with raw authenticity in your prayers and daily walk with Him?