Vulnerability. A pretty scary word right? Just thinking about it gives me an uneasy feeling… or at least it did; until I allowed myself to be vulnerable with God. Vulnerability is something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I have lived my life as comfortably as I can; never stepping outside of my comfort zone.
“I have lived my life as comfortably as I can; never stepping outside of my comfort zone.”
As a Christian, vulnerability is SO IMPORTANT for allowing God to shape our minds and our hearts. God already knows the workings of our hearts, He created them Himself; but we need to be vulnerable so that we can allow His word to speak truth to us, and so that we can grow in our faith and as people. We need to be susceptible to these changes and growth, and the only way to do that is by being vulnerable. We can recognize the parts of ourselves that we need to give to God. We can uncover deep hurts within ourselves that need love from God.
Being vulnerable, and stepping out of your comfort zone, is one of the best ways for God to use you. He knows your strengths and weaknesses, and will use BOTH for His glory. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 it says, “ 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Since coming to Wellspring, God has used me in ways I never thought were feasible for me. I wanted to control how God was going to use me to glorify Him. Doesn’t make any sense, right? I never thought I would be comfortable enough to talk to others about Jesus. I always was too nervous and too afraid of what others would think. I’m extremely shy and introverted, and I’ve always had a hard time talking to people that I didn’t know very well. As soon as I surrendered that to God; as soon as I allowed Him to work in my life the way He had intended to, he turned that weakness into strength. He allowed me the opportunities to serve in the church where I’m talking to people about Jesus all the time!
I did a 12 day devotional recently on the fruit of the spirit. In the day about “faithfulness”, author Diana Stone wrote, “The fullness of God’s purpose for each of us comes when our faith propels us to offer up our lives for the glory of the Kingdom. Not later, when we feel more qualified or can see just where He’s leading us-but right now, just as we are”. Being vulnerable allows God to turn these things that you consider weaknesses into strengths to glorify Him and to further expand His kingdom. He doesn’t want you to be perfectly ready; He just wants you to open your heart and your mind to Him.
“Being vulnerable allows God to turn these things that you consider weaknesses into strengths to glorify Him”
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV
One of the best and most amazing things about Wellspring Church is all of their opportunities to serve the Lord. It may be uncomfortable for some to step out of what they’re used to, but the Lord can do AMAZING things through you when you’re vulnerable and allow yourself to grow and change in a place that is unfamiliar to you. These things you consider a weakness can be changed by God, and only by God.
God loves you.