“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
– 1 John 2:16
If you want to connect deeply with people, you have to be vulnerable. To be vulnerable means to allow yourself to be seen deeply. Deeply. Allow people to see all the stuff in your life that you’ve been hiding: all your shame, all your fears, all your dreams, all your goals, all your desires, all your wants, and all your needs. Allow the people who are closest in your life to just see you as you are — no masks and no pretending. But when you do that, you always think you’re going to push people away. And sometimes you do, but most of the time when you do that, people don’t feel farther from you, they feel closer to you. They feel safer around you. They feel that they can tell you their stuff. And when vulnerability happens, there’s this amazing experience that happens between people. There is a sharing of the soul that happens between friends or loved ones. So if you want to connect deeply, the only way to do it, is to be vulnerable. Believe me: It’s the only way. If that’s missing, it’s just not going to work. But the two biggest things that come in the way of vulnerability and connecting deeply with others are these: pride and fear. So ask yourself: Am I being proud or afraid? Don’t be afraid, humble yourself and share your life with others. If you want to connect deeply with others, be vulnerable! I know you can, and I’m proud of you. |
Prayer
Lord, help me to be vulnerable, so I can connect deeply with others. Help me to set aside my pride and fear. I love you Lord, and I want to pass your love to others.
Reflection
Are you being vulnerable?
9 Responses
This is the Frist time I see – – I get it – – why I don’t connect- –
I fear people won’t like me- – I need to be Vulnerable- – Wow what revelation – – Fee enjoy people – – and sense Love – –
Want freedom- –
Hi Lorraine, great to hear that this devotional had a special meaning to you! We wish you blessings in being vulnerable. We love you, and God loves you. And you deserve to sense love and friendship!
I am preparing a presentation for tomorrow on how God has healed me during my life time. As a 70+ year old woman, it is a challenge to choose the God-events that will be meaningfull to the audience, and I have been feeling quite apprehensive, even though I have given many such presentations over the years. For some reason this presentation seems quite daunting. There must be someone in the audience that has a special need for the words that will pass my lips. I will be sharing about some of the “people” that God used to guide me through my difficult times. One of those “people” is The Hour Of Power and books written by Dr. Robert Schuller Sr. – how God led and healed me through the program and the books. It is no accident that Bobby’s Positive Minute message today was on being vulnerable. As I read it, all my anxiety fell away, and at the same time I felt strengthened and confident about my upcoming presentation which will expose many of my personal experiences and how God guided me through them. I have been watching the Hour of Power for over 30 years, and am thankful every day for it. Your program, has helped me grow in faith more than I can describe and I am so thankful. God is still blessing your ministry! Thank you!
Great to hear your testimony. Thanks for sharing! We’re so glad that God used the positive minute to encourage you!
Thank you for this amazing reflective piece. The greatest hindrance to freedom as a human being when it comes to having a healthy and a balanced relationship with people is not allowing ourselves to be vulnerable due to pride or fear because, we don’t want people to see our weaknesses. Hopefully, those who read your piece will have an aha moment and embrace their new found authentic self. Thanks a million.
Philomena Okpala
Thank you for this important message!
I WANT TO BE CLOEST TO MY FAMILY AND MY LOVES TOO AND THENTHEY CAN SEE HOW THEY I HAVE GROWN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN WITH A FOSTER HOME FOR LIKE 10 YEARS SO I AM VERY HAPPY THAT I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL I HOPE IN MY LIFE SO PLEASE LORD HELP ME TO BE SUCCESS FUL INMY LIFE TAMARA OLUND
I WANT TO BE CLOEST TO MY FAMILY AND MY LOVES TOO AND THEN THEY CAN SEE HOW THEY I HAVE GROWN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN WITH A FOSTER HOME FOR LIKE 10 YEARS SO I AM VERY HAPPY THAT I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL I HOPE IN MY LIFE SO PLEASE LORD HELP ME TO BE SUCCESS FUL IN MY LIFE TAMARA OLUND
It is a constant challenge to be genuinely Vulnerable.
Worth the risk, however.
Requires constant vigilance.