Scary But Good

During a recent team devotional time I mentioned I would be sharing on the topic of ‘vulnerability’. It was as if everyone shrank back a little in their chairs as soon as I mentioned it. Then I asked for a show of hands in response to the question, “Who likes being vulnerable?” It was as if everyone did their utmost to appear invisible.

Instinctively we try and avoid feeling vulnerable. It is scary. We fear it because when we are vulnerable, we can get hurt. Yet, in order to be able to have genuine and intimate relationship, vulnerability is a must.

Any worthwhile relationships, for example a marriage or a good friendship, require us to expose ourselves to another person in a posture of vulnerability. The layers of self-protection, the shields we hide behind, need to be taken down so that people can see the real us.

It is a vulnerable thing to say “I need help”, or “I have these struggles”. It requires vulnerability to confess sin, or even to express our inmost desires. But when we do, we place ourselves in a position where we can receive the richness our heart longs for.

One person we can always be vulnerable with is God. God is always for us and never against. He wants to do good to us, not harm. God is totally benevolent and utterly safe. Yet, incredibly, we sometimes try and protect ourselves against Him! We might fear returning to Him in repentance, afraid that this time He might reject us and not forgive. Or we might fear telling Him our struggles, thinking it might put Him off us. We’re not always sure we can truly share our innermost being. It feels there is a huge risk in doing so.

But, when we think about it, it’s crazy. Can we really effectively protect ourselves against an almighty God? No! We can’t, as He sees all things and knows all things. But the great news is that we don’t have to protect ourselves from Him. With God we can be a hundred percent vulnerable. It is in that state of vulnerability that He can meet us in the deepest ways.

As we learn to be vulnerable (exposed, naked) before God we can also learn how to be incrementally vulnerable with people around us, with people worthy of our trust. Then, through these trusting relationships, we can give and receive the best thing known to mankind: love.