Vulnerability

How often do we allow ourselves to be vulnerable? To bear our souls and admit when we don’t have it all together or all the answers? Our society doesn’t encourage it, instead we arm ourselves and put up fronts both individually and as a country. There are times I understand it. What is the purpose of showing your weaknesses to someone who may turn and use it against you?

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast [a]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with [b]insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Last night I had the privilege of talking to someone who allowed himself to open up and be vulnerable at the risk of disappointing others. He didn’t grow up in a Christian home, but got to know Christians and was embraced by them. They shared the Gospel and after a while people began assuming that he too was a Christian. Last night he shared that it wasn’t true though. People made the assumptions and he just never corrected them. I can relate. I think most people thought I was a Christian long before I truly surrendered my life to Christ.

He was struggling with major questions though and wanting to know more about Christ, but how do you do that when people think you already know the answers. I’m so thankful he didn’t let the risk of exposure keep him from vocalizing these questions. I believe each of the people with him last night were there for a reason. Our testimonies spoke of the changing power of Christ, but also the reality that following him doesn’t guarantee an easy, care free life.

This is the part that often gets overlooked. People hear the prosperity gospel and think that if their experience with Christianity doesn’t bring health, wealth and happiness they’re either doing something wrong or God loves others more than them. I don’t understand suffering. I don’t understand why some people seem to have it easier than others and some can’t seem to catch a break at all. I don’t know why some prayers get answered instantly and others never seem to get answered.

I don’t know all the answers… and yet I know The Answer. He suffered for us and with us. He prayed that the cup be taken from him, but it wasn’t. He was despised and rejected but offered forgiveness with his dying breaths. Jesus can take our sadness and turn it into joy. He can transform our mourning into dancing. He is the hope for the hopeless, the power for the powerless. Our prayer was that he experience this Jesus. Not the one that only accepts you if you have it all together, not the only that bestows material blessings on those that pray the right way, not the one that doesn’t understand our pain.

I’m so glad I was there last night. All I did was share what Christ has done for me. The Holy Spirit brought transformation and He came to know the Jesus I know. He is the good news for those afflicted, he binds up the brokenhearted. He is the Son of God. He alone is the reason for this season of celebration. Who is more vulnerable than a tiny baby, and yet he chose to become that for us. To expose himself to the pain of this world.

Isaiah 61:1-3

Exaltation of the Afflicted
61 The Spirit of the Lord [a]GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the [b]afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And [c]freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called [d]oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.