Relevant for our times, the much talked about trait of vulnerability sparked much debate in my circles over the past month. One thing was common to all conversations, whether “for” or “against”, all failed to imagine vulnerability as your greatest strength.
Routinely viewed as weakness, vulnerability actually demonstrates the courage to show up and be seen, regardless of the outcome.
Over the past several years pursuing a healing journey, vulnerability enabled me to fully live broken. Though remarkably painful, removing carefully constructed masks requires courage and authenticity with others.
the simplicity of vulnerability
My view of vulnerability feels more like a two-edged sword. Hiding and protecting myself definitely saves hurt, but it also results in less intimacy both with God and others.
Despite conversations surrounding whether to be or not to be vulnerable, everyone is vulnerable, regardless of the numerous avoidance tactics in play.
Born vulnerable, we live our most authentic lives as children. It is when we approach adulthood, we begin the retreat to mask wearing.
We cannot hope to be truly seen when we spend our time building barricades around everything which portrays our authentic selves.
Embracing vulnerability as your greatest strength paves the way for you to own your broken story, realizing that the broken pieces are the very things completing your beauty.
the healing of vulnerability
Considering vulnerability as your greatest strength opens your heart to healing. The longer you choose hiding over authenticity, the longer the people pleasing facade remains.
We focus on our brokenness to the extent that we begin to disown the fractured parts of ourselves, but our healing comes through the broken pieces.
Ever a lover of jigsaw puzzles, the idea of creating a hidden picture through a myriad of [broken] pieces delights me. Sadly, my life is similar to a jigsaw puzzle promising a gorgeous picture, except a number of pieces are missing.
My full healing requires the courage of vulnerability to gather the fractured parts of my life, place them in God hands, and allow Him to piece together the masterpiece He ordained for my life.
The broken parts of my story neither surprise God, nor change the truth that my life was, is, and always will be His masterpiece.
embracing vulnerability as your greatest strength
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
By continually focusing on my flaws and fractured parts, I fail in seeing the beauty of the entire picture of my life. Then in hiding them, I hinder healing by preventing God from redeeming them for His perfect work both in me and others.
Embracing vulnerability as your greatest strength involves a willingness to be seen by God and others.
- Acknowledge. Acknowledge your broken pieces as crucial parts of your story. Gather and place them in God’s hands allowing Him to place them in exactly the place where they belong, rather than disowning them.
- Accept. Accept the pain of brokenness without hoarding it. Constant focus on the pain of failures and flaws intensifies your suffering. Focus instead on its part in the beauty of your complete story.
- Abide. Abide in the truth of God’s declaration of your life as His masterpiece. Appreciate the beauty and richness of your complete self in Him, which includes all the broken pieces.
Placing our lives under a microscope, examining the flaws, failures, and sorrows merely multiples suffering, while forcing us into hiding in the shadows.
Learning to rest in God’s view of my life as a masterpiece, moves me to a safe place of embracing my brokenness openly and compassionately.
Through the courage of vulnerability first with God, I receive healing through the realization that the brokenness completes my story.
Moving me to engage others authentically, I experience the blessing of God’s full redemptive work in using every part of my story for my good and His glory.
If you enjoyed reading this post, there’s more! Sign up for my Substack; a little slice of serenity delivered right to your inbox!
Donna, this touched me so. This is so timely for me. This is so difficult for me in my writing. Though at times I go for it because Jesus is tugging at me and I’ve learned to recognize the all to familiar nudge. Sometimes I think is there anyone out there like me who may have faced similar situations, then I flip it and think is someone out there thinking the same thing. So when I do share a raw, transparent and vulnerable post, I think I may never know who I touch and that’s okay. Because God does. Bookmarked.
Thank you, Paula for YOUR vulnerability! Knowing how and when to share our stories is difficult. I continually pray for the Spirit’s leading. The important thing is to recognize we are broken, but that the broken is STILL a part of us, a part which often God uses in great ways. I often feel much like you do and wonder if or how my words and story touched others, and I am learning to rest in the knowledge that God redeems it all, and only sometimes do we get to see what that looks like!
Donna,
I used to be an expert at wearing a mask so no one could see what really was underneath. Hiding is not being brave! Over time, God has showed me that vulnerability IS one of my greatest strengths. You have to be brave to show up and be real. When I was willing to be vulnerable, it opened up so many doors to share my faith and God’s goodness. We are all broken to some degree — knowing we aren’t alone is comforting and empowering.
Blessings,
Bev
Bev, you and me both share the expertise of wearing masks! But oh my, the thing we feared everyone would find out, turned out to be our key to true freedom and healing! God is so gracious to redeem and use our brokenness for our good and His glory!
When we hide our pain and sequester the broken pieces, our spirits cannot heal. I fully agree that when, in vulnerability, we invite our Lord into the hurt then we begin moving from heartache to healing.
Beautiful encouragement, friend.
Tammy, it is disheartening to think the thing we thought would protect us (hiding), only drives the wound deeper. Inviting the Lord in begins our healing journey!
This is such a thought-provoking post, Donna. So many things come into play when it comes to how we view vulnerability … how we were raised, how we view God, what generation we’re part of, our personality, how we’ve been hurt, our failures, etc. I love how you put this: “My full healing requires the courage of vulnerability to gather the fractured parts of my life, place them in God hands, and allow Him to piece together the masterpiece He ordained for my life.” The best news is that God already knows everything we could possibly tell Him, and He is ready and willing and eager to redeem every last piece of it. Wonderful post, dear friend!
Lois, I agree, our vulnerability (or lack of it) is very much affected by many things, and I know my past affects mine a good deal. I think that is why God often takes us backwards before we can really move forward. Showing us the broken pieces we are running from, actually are the pieces that make everything else fit. I love dialoging with you here my friend!
Donna thank you for sharing your vulnerability. I love that God takes our broken pieces and completes his masterpiece of us. Praise God.
Deborah, I am so grateful for the Hope God is breathing into all of my broken places!
This is a beautiful truth, Donna, “Abide in the truth of God’s declaration of your life as His masterpiece. Through the courage of vulnerability first with God, I receive healing by realizing that the brokenness completes my story.”
Thank you, Lisa, I am still learning and savoring the richness of that statement!
Vulnerability can be a hot-button topic. I agree that if we truly desire to heal, vulnerability must be part of the journey. This sentence is so good —> Learning to rest in God’s view of my life as a masterpiece, moves me to a safe place of embracing my brokenness openly and compassionately. Amen.
I had forgotten that you are a co-host for Tell His Story. Thank you for a safe and welcoming place to share our words.
Mary, I agree! I have noticed lately the hot button effect of talking about vulnerability. But God is leading me there on my own healing journey, of course beginning with vulnerability in my relationship with Him. Thank you for visiting today!
Vulnerability sometimes comes naturally to me, but other times I won’t notice until after the fact that I’ve been guarding my heart too much. When I’m scared, I have to remind myself to intentionally be vulnerable with others (if it’s a safe space) so I don’t wall myself off. Thanks for this encouragement today, Donna.
Lisa, I agree, at times vulnerability does come easy, but if we have to get too close to my broken pieces, I become a bit more guarded. I think God wants me to see the way to healing lies through the broken pieces!
Bless you Donna, thank you for sharing your heart here.
Jennifer
Thank YOU, Jennifer for reading and encouraging me!
“The broken parts of my story neither surprise God, nor change the truth that my life was, is, and always will be His masterpiece.” Donna, this is such an encouraging statement and truly changes the way we view our broken parts. Beautiful post!
Thank you, Joanne, for your kind words. I still struggle with the broken pieces of my story, but am learning when I give them to God, He heals me.
Yes, acknowledge the broken pieces! It’s really hard but I wouldn’t be me without the broken pieces in my story. I’m not proud of the things that happened; but I’m proud of how God has brought me through each and every struggle. I know He will continue to do it until I reach my journey Home.
Jerralea, acknowledging my broken pieces has been a real part of my healing journey. I’m also learning God heals the shame associated with them too, which I think is part of why I feel uncomfortable including them into my story.