I sometimes feel as though I live a full, but strange life.
Do you know that feeling? When something happens and you search your mind, trying to see if someone you know has been through the same thing? And all to often, that quick mind search comes up empty?
I have felt this more times in my life than I could probably count.
As I was standing at the sink, washing the dishes tonight, I started thinking. I find most of my deep thinking comes when I’m doing a task on autopilot.
I have wondered, “Why?” and “Why me?” so many times. And I’m not sure, but I may have an idea now.
We all have stories to tell. We all have a message that can help someone else in this life feel a little less alone. The enemy is always trying to find a way in, a way to place some doubt. Or worse, shame. I know he’s done it to me.
And maybe my “Why me?” moments are for those people.
We are never alone. Nothing we have ever faced comes as a surprise to the Father.
He built us for community though. To thrive as people who open up to each other, and build relationship with people.
We need those relationships to get us through everything the enemy is going to throw at us.
And if that situation can be used to keep us isolated? If the shame and regret are all we can see? If we let whatever gets thrown at us stick?
We miss out on the forgiveness that we already have. We miss out on showing others that they are loved NO MATTER WHAT.
Our community, with the relationships that we build in to, is what helps us to be strong enough to brush ourselves off after those attacks.
Every single one of us is going to fall short. We are human. The bible is filled with people who have fallen short. Those stories don’t end with the fall though.
Neither does ours.
Those stories show that after that fall, the story is redeemed. After your “Why would this happen to me?” moment, you get another moment. The one where you decide how you’ll finish out that story. The moment where you give it to God.
You open up to your community.
And then you realize that the very thing that the enemy had convinced you was so awful you would never recover?
Well, you aren’t the only one. Someone else needs you to be brave enough to reveal your story, so that they can know they aren’t alone. They are worthy of love. They have received forgiveness.
And that if they share that with others, the enemy gets pushed back farther and farther. The more we let God in, the more we let other believers in, the less power we hand over to the enemy.
The only power that the darkness has is what we hand over.
Heavenly Father, I thank you so much that you chose me. I thank you for every time you have picked me up and dusted me off. And that you will never stop doing that. Help us to recognize all those thoughts that aren’t of you, and to reject them. Help us to be more transparent in our struggles. Let us be an example to others of all that you are and all that you can do. We aren’t hear to judge or be judged, but to love. Help us to tear down our walls and let you in. And for anyone struggling, help them find their community. Lead them to the people that they need. In faith I pray. Amen.
Soul to Sole Living 