Weakness is a Sign of Strength

We are taught that showing emotions and vulnerability are signs of weakness. Oh no, those are bad words…especially if you want to be successful in life. You gotta be tough. So, instead of expressing those sides of us – those sides that are inherent to our makeup- we put walls up in all of our life situations and keep those feelings to ourselves. Nothing can hurt us or bother us because we won’t ever let anyone into our world. 

That is certainly a world that I had lived in for a good part of my life.

Always “too busy” to really care much about what was going on around me. Get out of my way! I don’t have any weaknesses or vulnerabilities. I never let anyone be too close to me and never formed any real relationships.

Through my relationship with God, I have learned that it takes much greater strength to expose my limitations, shortcomings, sentiments and my sensitivities. Showing them to those around me has actually made me stronger and it shows that I am a fucking human. Walls down and heart open. Thank you, Jesus!

More so even in the last year, I have found myself a LOT more emotional and empathetic towards others. I feel like I feel more, if that makes sense.

Living my “go-go-go” life had made me kind of numb. I never sat still long enough to “feel” stuff. I used to take great pride in being tough and to not let my feelings show…but THAT kind of strength wasn’t really strength. Man, it took a lot of work.

Now I embrace my softer side…the side that God made me to show. There is a balance.

I don’t want you to misunderstand what I am saying here…I haven’t turned into an energy vampire. Ya know, one of those people who are super emotional and suck the life out of others by being so over-emotional that they are super annoying to be around. Yeah, no one wants to be around one of those types. I 

I have learned that I don’t have to be strong in every aspect…just some. The important ones like in emergencies, my health, for the support of others, work ethic, integrity and faith (to name a few)…now in those, my  strength and tenacity should shine.

When I am strong all of the time, it actually harms me. Sometimes, I need to feel the feelings that bubble inside of me. They build stronger relationships. Better ones. Deeper ones. Those that love me and that surround me identify with me better.

We live in this society where we commend “strength” when in reality, we are celebrating turning people into robots with no emotions or feelings. So we pound our feelings further and further down into the never ending hole until they cease to exist.

Well, let’s stop doing that!!

Step 1: Ask Jesus into your heart. 

Step 2: Talk to God every day…He WILL talk back. You just have to sit still long enough to listen.

Step 3: Watch your heart transform. At first, it will be gradual…but one day you will look back and you won’t recognize the “old you” anymore. You will have transformed into the being that you were designed to be. One that loves and is loved. 

Having Jesus in my heart has transformed me in every aspect. My soul has been renewed and the shell of the person that I once was has been updated into a much better version. 

The truth is – we don’t have to be strong by ourselves…we weren’t designed that way. When you have a relationship with God, He is your strength and your rock. You don’t have to be that anymore! So, stop taking His job and be the person He made you to be. 

Jen