WEEK 7, DAY 2: Being ‘Real’ is not Weakness
In her audiobook lecture titled The Power of Vulnerability, author and researcher Brené Brown notes that the majority of people today view vulnerability as weakness. She says that, in general, when we see somebody else being vulnerable – like somebody sharing about being abused in their childhood – we see them as being brave. But when we have opportunities to be vulnerable, we choose not to share. We’ll justify the decision by thinking, “They don’t want to hear my sob story,” or, “My story isn’t nearly as bad as theirs.” But these are mere excuses. The reality is that we choose not to share out of fear.
Even though she’s not writing from a Christian perspective, Brown’s conclusions align well with the Scriptures. The author of Hebrews, for example, writes that we should meet together, and motivate one another, and encourage one another regularly. But to truly encourage one another, we need to fully see and know one another. And to fully know one another, we need to allow our true selves to be seen by others.
To truly be the church, therefore, we need to share our real life experiences as well as our current struggles. Only then can we offer real motivation and encouragement to one another.
READING & JOURNALING:
Do you feel like others do a good job of encouraging and motivating you on a regular basis? If not, have you considered the possibility that you’re not allowing your true self to be seen?
Do you feel like you do a good job of encouraging and motivating others on a regular basis? What steps can you take to truly get to know them so that you may better encourage and motivate them?
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I confess that oftentimes I choose not to be vulnerable because I do see it as weakness. Today has been an excellent reminder that to truly be the church, we must be real about our experiences and our struggles. Help me to use the mess of my life to minister to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)
The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible through a year (September 2019 – August 2020). It is a separate reading from the daily devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.
Read: Isaiah 44 & 45
Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?
Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.
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