Maneuvers - No. 97
You Can Be Vulnerable
With Me
Friend, how do you feel about taking risks? Many of us try to avoid them as much as possible. At least, that’s what the research says.
A 2019 study found that 30% of Americans have an extremely low risk tolerance when it comes to finances and investing. And only 14% have a high tolerance of risk.
But this fear of risk doesn’t just apply to our money. According to the survey, “Americans who are risk averse to investing are more inclined to play it safe across many other areas of their lives, including their careers, where they chose to live, the activities they pursue, and their social lives.”
If this description rang true for you, you’re not alone, friend. And if there’s one risk most of us would try to avoid as much as possible, it’s probably …
Vulnerability. In our spiritual lives. In our marriages. In our friendships. In our ministry to others.
After all, being vulnerable—sharing the deep parts of our hearts and lives with God or with other people—means risking disappointment or even rejection. We fear someone might fail us or betray our confidence or use our weaknesses against us.
Vulnerability is scary. But what if it led us into greater freedom and healing? What if it allowed us to experience even more of Jesus’ love and power?
Can we let go of our fear today? Can we “trust in the Lord with all [our hearts] and lean not on [our] own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, NIV)?
01.
The Message
“Relationship with me, in a deeper way, requires vulnerability. And healing requires vulnerability too. Similarly, you also need vulnerability for trust; for how can you receive what I have to give you without opening your heart a little bit more? How can you receive love without a heart unafraid to feel, even if it hurts when you are vulnerable? For then, you see and experience things about yourself, and allow other people to see those parts of you that you might like to hide.
“It can feel safer to hide rather than be open. And how do you know with whom to be open, and how much, when the world feels like such a dangerous place? Won’t it be risky, you think, to be vulnerable? Won’t it potentially hurt more than help if people use your vulnerability as a weapon against you? Who can be trusted? In what circumstances can you choose to be vulnerable with your heart?
“Strong One, remember that I defend you. Fearless One, remember that I am wisdom in your heart. Dear One, do not be afraid to feel—to take a careful look at what it is you fear, how it is you hurt people, and what gets in the way of freedom. You are not free by hiding—even from yourself (especially from yourself)—the areas within you that make you feel like self-protection is the key to a life of success. This kind of hiding is not even survival—it masquerades as survival.
“How can you survive this world—and how can you experience the greater depths of experience with me (and likewise experience a life where you don’t have to pretend anymore) without being open to seeing the worst things you are capable of? So let me ask you: How are you afraid to let me in? In what areas of your heart do you resist vulnerability? How are you trying to stand all alone? Can I show you? Can I lead you to freedom now? Can we, together, open up your heart completely, layer by layer, in a way you have not yet experienced, to more deeply connect with me?”
02.
Listen
What’s your response to today’s message? What images came to mind as you read? Let’s take a moment to write out a prayerful response to the Lord.
03.
Think
“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” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).
1. When was the last time you were vulnerable with someone? What happened, and how did it affect you afterward?
2. What areas of your life do you want to hide—from God, from other people, or even from yourself? What would vulnerability look like in those areas?
3. Where in your life do you need to see God’s protection and unconditional love for you? More than anything, what words do you want to hear Jesus say to you right now?
04.
Trust
Sometimes, when we go through extremely difficult or hurtful circumstances, we build up high walls to protect ourselves—to get through the pain. We hide like this to survive. And survival isn’t wrong.
But what happens when we don’t move past the hurts and those walls we’ve built to shield our hearts? Do we carry those coping mechanisms into other relationships? Do we let them hinder our personal healing and growth?
Let’s go back and re-read this week’s entire FLAG Message. Now, let’s pull out our journals and write down the phrases (or paragraph) that impacted us most.
Read that portion of the message again—out loud this time. How does each word resonate in our hearts? Next, let’s pick our pen back up and write out our responses to the following questions:
1. What truths about me can I learn from this message? (Can you find a Scripture that also speaks to one or more of those truths?)
2. What truths about God does this message reveal? (And what Scriptures also highlight these truths?)
3. What is Jesus inviting me to do with these truths? How can I be more vulnerable with him and others?
Now that we’ve written out our answers, is there a trusted friend we can share them with—someone who can listen to us and pray with us? Let’s set up a time this week to meet with them over coffee, talk on the phone, or go on a walk together. This journey of growth and healing is even better with like-minded companions.
And now, let’s close in prayer …
05.
Pray
Heavenly Father, I confess where I’ve allowed past experiences and hurts to keep me from being vulnerable with you and other people. Help me trust you with my heart, stop resisting you, and surrender this fear.
I want to be more open with others, too. Show me who I can trust and be vulnerable with. And help me to be a trustworthy friend to them, too.
I know experiencing more of you and your freedom means I have to be willing to let you in. So here I am, Lord—I surrender to you. I want all of you, no matter the risk.
I love you. I’m safe with you.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
