“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (HSCB)
The older I get, the more I spend time with God, I am beginning to truly understand what Paul meant by this. As I’ve written in previous posts I’ve built walls and in the past five years with God working in me most of them have crumbled. I am learning that in order for God to use me I have to let people in, even if it scares me. I’m an introvert, there is no getting around it, which means this verse goes completely against my fleshly desire, which is not share anything about me. As unnerving as it is for me, every time I share an issue, a struggle, or something I view as my weakness I feel free. A chain has been broken and I am no longer bound to the lies Satan whispers to me about those things. I am more likely to willingly share than I have in the past but I am still afraid of what the repercussions might be when others know more about me. When it’s hard for me to share I remember this verse about God’s grace being sufficient and His power is in my weakness, because He is all I need. I pray that every time I share a part of me God can be seen. For I am nothing without him and I’m willing to lay it all down at His feet, to allow him to use me and maybe just maybe my writing will help someone else knock down a wall or two. Francesca Battistelli’s song, “If We’re Honest”, really sums up what I’m rambling about:
“Truth is harder than a lie
The dark seems safer than the light
And everyone has a heart that loves to hide
I’m a mess and so are you
We’ve built walls nobody can get through
Yeah, it may be hard, but the best thing we could ever do, ever do
Bring your brokenness, and I’ll bring mine
‘Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy’s waiting on the other side
If we’re honest
If we’re honest
Don’t pretend to be something that you’re not
Living life afraid of getting caught
There is freedom found when we lay our secrets down at the cross, at the cross
So bring your brokenness, and I’ll bring mine
‘Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy’s waiting on the other side
If we’re honest
If we’re honest
It would change our lives
It would set us free
It’s what we need to be
So bring your brokenness, and I’ll bring mine
‘Cause love can heal what hurt divides
And mercy’s waiting on the other side
If we’re honest
If we’re honest”
This song is me, it is my struggle- I can look you in the eye and tell you I’m fine when I’m actually hurting on the inside. I would rather keep others in the dark than shine the light on me. I definitely try to hide my heart and I am a mess with walls only a few have managed to break through, that is until God started working on me. I am bringing my brokenness, will you bring yours? Will you lay it all down at the cross? I promise there is nothing more freeing than giving all your issues, struggles, and weaknesses to God, in exchange you will find His strength and power. There is no guilt, no shame found at the cross, only a freeing that can not be explained with words. Watch how much your life will change...if you need someone to hold your hand while you lay it down at the cross, I will. Let’s be honest, we’re all dealing with something-I’m not here to judge-just here to share His love. Until next time, remember : “The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His instructions are trustworthy.” (Psalm 111:7)
Listen to Francesca Battistelli’s song: “If We’re Honest”
