Freedom in Vulnerability

As I have been a part of leading a group on experiencing rest "in Christ" I came across a message that has impacted me not because it's new but has taken me to a new level.  I have attached the video by Brene Brown called "The Power of Vulnerability".  We live to experience love, love from God, love from our family, love from our friends, and love to our family and friends.  I believe this is the abundant life that Jesus invited us into, is a life of being radically loved and loving others.  What power raised us from the dead into New Life?  Ephesians 2:4-5 reveals that it is the power of God's love that raises us from the dead.

How can we experience God's love for us and others love for us if we are not vulnerable and known?  We can't.  I would like to suggest to you this is why the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day didn't know Jesus because they didn't let Him know them.  I have to be honest with you I have had a love/hate relationship with vulnerability.  I love it when I take a risk to be known but hate when the fear of being known is overwhelming (shame).  I like the idea of walking in the Light (Jack Frost talks about this in Experiencing Father's Embrace) more than I embraced a lifestyle of living in the light.  It seems altogether too risky, I could get hurt, and I may be disappointed.

As I listened to what Brene Brown discovered I became more and more convinced in my spirit that vulnerability is the only way to live.  By the way Brene Brown says she had a spiritual awakening and through another speaker I found out she has become a believer in Jesus Christ.

I believe in our American culture we are crying out for relationship, community, love, and family.  Yet our popular culture elevates intimacy without sacrifice.  Therefore sex without really knowing a person is elevated as the ultimate type of love and romance, when the truth is it is only one step away from prostitution.  The pornography industry is over $10 billion in America and $97 billion globally.  Yet if we dig deeper underneath the counterfeits, we see a society that craves intimacy, connection, and love.  Casting stones at the counterfeits does little to lead people into freedom and love.

I believe us embracing a lifestyle of emotional and personal vulnerability before those we long to connect with (especially God) can bring us into a place of powerful freedom.  I know this from counseling people for 19 years, there is never breakthrough without true vulnerability even to the point of a person feeling hopeless and powerless.  Jesus seems to ride in on His white horse to deliver and bring freedom when we are willing to be in this place.

Vulnerable His,
Bret