I've always been a private person with a rather larger filter to what I share with others and I need to know someone pretty well before I allow myself to be vulnerable. It's not necessarily a good thing, I know. It makes it awfully hard for people to get to know me beyond the surface. I've been challenged though, by God and His Word to change this. Our society is so taboo about certain things and sharing something that will make you look weak or like a failure is not something that you tell people. But the book of James states, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (5:16). I've been praying that my church would grow close that we would demonstrate this well and well I've realized that if I'm praying that then I have to be willing to be a part of it. It excites me to think about how much God could use us if were were willing to do this.
Lord God, our Hope, our Comforter and our Redeemer it terrifies me to pray this, but I know that You are challenging me to open up. I pray that you would give me opportunities to be vulnerable with the people that you have placed in my life and provide the strength and trust that I need to do that. May I be willing to do whatever it is that will bring You the glory. I love you Lord.
Thank you for sharing that Alana. It's funny, my housemate and I had a spontaneous coffee date the other day and talked about that very thing. Everyone, myself included, holds things in and thinks that no one could be possibly be thinking about or struggling with the same thing. It's probably not a coincidence that this is the second mention of vulnerability in a few days, it must be something we're fighting if God has to tell us so many times. Thanks again Alana, your struggles are not yours alone, I pray that God would change our hearts for his glory <3
ReplyDeleteAlida I miss you! Thanks for the encouraging comment. It's so hard to open up, but I know that when we do God uses us and our vulnerability so much. I will be praying for you :)
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