Vulnerable
Anyone who has made a post on social media has experienced what it’s like to be vulnerable. The definition of vulnerable is to be open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt. One of the most common weapons used to hurt people and make them feel vulnerable are words.
Think about how many friendships are ended because of words. Once we’ve been wounded we generally build walls that keep us from being vulnerable to the possibility of being hurt again. This kind of thinking makes it very difficult to embrace new friendships and often results in missing out on great possibilities.
When Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, they were met by ladies who recognized Naomi from years before. Naomi said, “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, (which means bitter) because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
Imagine how those words must have hurt Ruth. She had returned with Naomi. She had given up everything for Naomi. She was willing to do whatever she could to help Naomi and yet in all her bitterness, Naomi claimed to have nothing left. She didn’t even introduce her to the ladies.
There she was in a foreign country, an outsider and her mother-in-law had just devalued their relationship. What would you have done in this situtation? How many emotional walls would have been built? Guess what Ruth did? She decided to go find work so that she and Naomi would have food to eat. She didn’t allow hurtful words to keep her from fully investing in the relationship that God had placed her in.
Jesus gave us clear direction in this area when He said, “Your ancestors have also been taught ‘Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.’ However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:43-45 TPT)
The best way to combat feeling vulnerable is to boldly face it with the knowledge that you are the Daughter of the King! By following God’s clear direction we can see past the insults, the hurts and the words and be able to love, serve and pray for the very ones that cause them. Like Ruth, we can choose to see our identity and value in Christ and with that confidence we can seek the best for others.
Be Intentional about praying through cirumstances that make you feel vulnerable.
Praises & Prayers
Father, thank you for showing us the way to overcome vulnerablity. We belong to You Lord and our value to You is tremendous. Help us to pray for those who hurt us and forgive words that have been said. We don’t want to miss out on all that You have for us in relationships that may try and test us. Thank you for Your Words of Truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Messages from His Word
Matthew 5:43-45
“Your ancestors have also been taught ‘Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.’ However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father.”