PRAY: Vulnerability

Every once in a while you run into someone who is just bursting to share the most intimate details of her train-wreck of a life with you, a total stranger. You know, the woman sitting next to you on the plane, the clerk at the checkout in the grocery store, your hairdresser. And, while these awkward confessions often contain sitcom-worthy comedy, they are few and far between. Most of us hold our failures and struggles close to our chests.

There are times, however, when it truly does us some good to reveal our vulnerabilities and just be honest about where we are emotionally. Of course, we all have a small handful of people that we confide in--siblings, close friends, spouses or boyfriends. But, I think opening up with someone we don't know quite as well can bring about positive change. It may be an acquaintance with whom you've wanted to make a deeper connection or someone you've worked with at church who seems to be on a different page than you. There may even be a co-worker or family member--a fractured or frustrating relationship that always leaves you hoping it could be healed. Revealing your own weakness not only makes you more accessible, but extends trust to a person who may have felt a distance that he or she did not know how to reach across. It gives someone a chance to help you, comfort you or understand you more. In the end, both people can find a sense of renewal and fellowship through this simple confidence.

God calls us to have child-like faith. As children we have very little fear of people seeing us we truly are. We have faith that people in our lives are trustworthy and have our best interests at heart. While the discernment of adulthood protects us from hurt and betrayal, it can also keep us from experiencing true fellowship. Let a little child-like trust for others into your life--you may be amazed by the freedom it brings.