(coffee is a bit of a weak spot for me)
I was really hoping to be a part of Five Minute Friday last week, but I took my husband to Phoenix for a birthday weekend celebration. It was well worth it.
Still, I am definitely happy to be back for another Five Minute Friday. That time in the week where lots of writers and bloggers meet up at Kate Motaung’s blog for five minutes of unedited free writing on any given word. It is a great time to see where your mind will lead you as well as discover other’s thoughts.
This Friday’s word is: Weak
Let’s Go!
Weak is a word I can identify with. It isn’t necessarily a word I love, but I am growing to appreciate it more and more.
In my life strength was what mattered. Displaying any weakness left you open to being hurt. I didn’t care to be hurt (who does really?) so I worked hard at not displaying weakness. Even if I was hurt, you wouldn’t know it.
Now don’t get me wrong. Even though I had constructed a wall around my own heart to protect myself, I would often reach out to bless others and love on those who felt pretty unlovable. I could relate to the others who had been hurt, and I wanted to help them. I guess I wanted them to not build the walls I had, and I could show a kindness that I could not accept.
And slowly God began a new work in me.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
Little by little the hard places in my heart that were built up by years of choking back pain began to soften. I allowed myself to feel hurt and also to express it. Not to everyone, but to a friend that I allowed in, and to God.
Once I finally admitted to being weak, I learned some cool things.
My God is beyond a superhero! I have had moments where I have been so low and so hurt that I could only crouch on the floor of my bathroom and cry out in silent tears to my Father in Heaven, and you know what? He met me there. Like immediately He worked and turned all the worry and pain around.
When I felt like I couldn’t go a minute longer, He broke every chain. I mean every single one. In my weakness, I have seen and felt His strength.
Weakness doesn’t feel good. It is still hard and will continue to be hard when I am in that place, but the beauty of it all is that I am not in that place alone.
Stop
Wow…I’ve got seven minutes before it is Saturday here in AZ! Have a great weekend!
Our stories sound very similar in this. I was always quick to reach out to others but not wanting to show my own weakness. It is amazing though how, when we do acknowledge our weakness, God is there, waiting to fill us with his strength.
I feel like a total work in progress with letting my weakness and vulnerability be more out there. It really is incredible how God meets us right where we are and in such a huge way when we really are desperately weak. He is surely a God who is always on time. Thanks for visiting today.
Amen sister! When I’ve been in my darkest times, wanting answers from God, He hasn’t given them to me but has said, when I listen hard enough, “I’m here. I’m with you”.
I’m re-reading Jill Briscoe’s ‘Prayer That Works’ at the moment and she quotes Matthew Henry: ‘God is sometimes a God who hides himself but never a God who absents himself, sometimes in the dark but never at a distance.’ I love that.
Your FMF neighbour (no.72)
What an incredible quote! I have been incredibly blessed by the Lord especially in those dark moments. Even now I know He is working on something vital for my life. He is so good! Thank you so much for stopping by! I truly appreciate it.
Kelly, nice to meet you here! Great post. Love that last paragraph. I’m over in the 43 spot this week.
Nice to meet you Tara! I am blessed by your visit. I have read several of your posts and really appreciate your openness. Thank you for coming by! Have a blessed weekend.
I am so thankful we serve a God who meets us in our moments of weakness with His strength. Loved your post! I’m at #9 this week. Blessings!
Hi Barbie! So good to see you this week. I have had a long Saturday, but am settling in to enjoy everyone’s posts. Thank you for visiting! Hope your weekend is going well! 🙂
Kelly, I’m getting to the party late. Having kids home for four days will do that to a writer. 😉
Thank you so much for sharing a piece of your story here. Reading about the victory God is working in you is so powerful. I bet He’s used you in surprising ways in others’ lives.
You’re right. There are things we learn through weakness, ways we see God in our weakness that can’t be learned and seen in any other way.
Jeanne, I so appreciate your stopping by! Family definitely encourages us and sparks creativity in finding writing time! I’m still trying to figure it all out. I love my husband to pieces and we talk constantly, but I’ll tell you that man is the most chatty when I am writing. 😉
I hope you have a wonderful week! Thank you for visiting. Again, you have blessed me so.
Kelly, I appreciate your honesty here. “Weakness doesn’t feel good. It is still hard and will continue to be hard when I am in that place, but the beauty of it all is that I am not in that place alone.” Despite the epiphanies about God’s character and movement that we gain, the truth is that our souls and flesh are pained in the process.
Amen Stephanie! I am so glad that even though the process is hard, we never go it alone. God is so amazing and good. It is humbling to remember that He loves us so. Thank you so much for visiting me today.