Begin to Be Vulnerable

Dear reader, 

Does the word vulnerability leave you unsettled?

I have mixed feelings about it. Yet amidst my feelings toward the word itself I do believe it is necessary to be vulnerable in this life. 

Vulnerability leads us towards humility, and if we can be humble our prides begins to suffocate. 

Beginning in January three evening events became available to me, and I accepted each invitation.

First was a Celebrate Recovery Group. 

Second was a Small Group studying Philippians slowly. 

And Third was a Men’s Group going through the Book A Kingdom Man. 

I had a pretty good picture of what each gathering would look like, I’d been apart of ministries and small groups most of my life. I know the motions to go through. 

Yet in each of these groups they challenged me more in more in vulnerability, and I didn’t want to shy away from them. 

Celebrate Recovery focuses on our sin patterns and walks you through what scripture says is the answer is to each habit or hang up you experience. 

The Small Group was a majority of my friends, but through the lens of scripture and the intentionality of the people I was with my sin was clearly out for all to see in the conversation. 

The Men’s Group called me out in my views of biblical manhood, and how much hurt I had received from unreliable men, and how little I viewed most men. 

The more I have walked in this life, the more I’ve noticed that God wants me to be more bold in vulnerability in each passing day. To be humble and lay down my pride and open about my sin and the grace and mercy that is more than sufficient to cover it completely. 

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have repercussions at times. There will be those that use your past against you. Your shortcomings might be used to jest and ridicule you. But it also has the powerful effect to draw others into a state of vulnerability. When you are open and honest others see that and feel nudged or challenged in the same manner. 

Real and raw vulnerability is a beautiful thing. It shows the redemption power of the Gospel in it truest form, it is a skill that ought to be practiced daily. 

I leave you with this challenge. Be open and honest with someone close to you. Be vulnerable, be gracious to receive vulnerability from someone else. 

After you do that repeat it daily until your days are over on this earth. 

The Gospel is not meant to be kept to yourself, share with others the power of redemption. 

The story of how God saved your life is a great place to start. 

Sincerely,

Your Hopeful, Open, and Honest Man

-Mitchell