Why Does Sharing Faith Feel Awkward?

Everyday Faith

Key passages: Colossians 4:5–6; Matthew 5:14–16

There’s something strange about praying out loud in a place like Starbucks.

You’re not yelling. You’re not preaching. You’re just talking to God with a few other guys. But still, everything in you wants to shut down. It’s not the noise. It’s the awareness. The sense that you are doing something personal in a place that feels public. And the fear that someone is watching, judging, or thinking you are out of place.

For me, it was social anxiety. I was filling in other people’s thoughts without any evidence. I was reacting to a story in my head, not to what was actually happening. I felt exposed.

But I did it anyway. And what happened surprised me.

To my right were three strangers who noticed us. They did not mock us. They did not roll their eyes. They started talking to each other about church and how they missed it. Something about what we were doing stirred something in them.

To my left was a woman who waited until we finished praying, then asked what church we go to. She goes to the same one. I could not know exactly what God was doing in that moment, but I received it as a kindness, a reminder that I was not alone and did not need to be afraid.

I realized something in that moment.

A lot of the hesitation we feel about living our faith in public is because we think it is about us. Our awkwardness. Our fears. Our reputation. But most of the time, it is not about us at all. It is about Him. It is about witness. And you have no idea who is watching or how the Spirit may already be working in someone before you ever open your mouth.

Related reading: What Does It Mean to Take Jesus Seriously? explores what changes when following Christ moves beyond private admiration and begins shaping the way we actually live.

Paul says it like this.

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Colossians 4:5–6, ESV

We do not have to be loud or forceful. Christian witness should be loving, gracious, and intentional. But we are still called to be present. To be unashamed. To be willing.

Jesus said it plainly.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14–16, ESV

That is what I am learning.

Let the light shine. Let your faith be visible. Even when it feels awkward. Even when it feels risky. Even when your anxiety is telling you to keep it private.

Because sometimes the people around you are not waiting for a perfect presentation. They are waiting for someone to go first.

Study References

• Colossians 4:5–6, concerning wisdom, gracious speech, and witness toward outsiders.
• Matthew 5:14–16, concerning visible faith and good works that direct glory toward the Father.
• Scripture quotations and linked passages are from the English Standard Version.