Vulnerability as Your Greatest Strength

(Photo: Unsplash)

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.

hands holding a lighted heart

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.”

Ephesians 2:10

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.

tell his story link-up

I am thrilled to be the new host of Tuesday’s Tell His Story Link up! Jeanne Takenaka and I share the link up on alternate weeks, with Jeanne hosting the first and third Tuesdays, as well as the occasional fifth Tuesday, and my hosting the second and fourth Tuesdays!

Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you.

This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community!

Click over here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.

Let’s Link Up!


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