This idea is something that has been milling in my mind for awhile now, although the last couple of days have brought it to my more urgent attention. We aren’t meant to live this life alone—God wants us to live life together. He desires for us to be intentional with relationships. He desires for us to first draw near to Him and to become dependent upon Him, but to then be relational people.
If I am to be completely honest, I find it easier to try to strike out on my own. Why do I need to open myself up to potential hurt? When I allow myself to become vulnerable, I open up the door to rejection. What if people don’t like what they see? What if I allow them to see the real me and they then decide that I’m not worth their friendship or their time? I’ve been burned before in friendship relationships. I’ve been burned before in familial relationships. The scars run deep. The feelings of insecurity are real. However, the more I dig into God’s word I see that He desires more for (and from) me. He wants to heal those broken places in my life (our lives) and to have me (all of us) be in relationship with others. Is it all going to be all pretty like rainbows, candy, roses and ponies? No. We are a fallen people living in a broken world. It’s going to take work. It is going to take intention and vulnerability. It’s going to take courage and walking hand-in-hand with the Father. It’s also going to take letting go of selfishness and pride and to:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)
None of us have got it all together. We all have our shortcomings and failures. It is going to take the willingness to humble ourselves before God and before others and say, “You know what, I don’t have it all together. I need someone to walk alongside me on this journey of life. Are you with me?” (well, maybe not said in those exact words…). Also, we cannot become so shortsighted that we get so caught up in the immediate, here and now and forget other relationships. I’m guilty of that and am praying for change. All relationships take work. They require our time and energy. I think that they are worth it in the long run. The eternal rewards are there.
Hmmm…guess I’d better take a step of courage and walk outside of my comfort zone. Care to join me?
**Quote from my friend Angela that I thought was good “food-for-thought.”
