Strength in Weakness

For 30 some years I thought being strong meant holding your head high, not showing emotions and powering through life on your own.

In the last few months I have learned that I couldn't have been more wrong.

It takes a strong person to trust, putting yourself out there in the hands of others takes great strength.  Very often we end up in hands that are not trustworthy, gentle, or kind. We get hurt by these hands, knocked down or crushed. The strength it takes to put yourself in this situation is greater than the strength it takes to keep people away.

It takes a strong person to love. Opening your heart to someone makes you vulnerable. It gives them the opportunity to break your heart. Take your love and wad it up and throw it away. Leaving you crushed, confused, and broken.

Being strong doesn't mean you never fall down, make mistakes or get hurt. Being strong means you get back up, dust yourself off, admit your mistakes and FORGIVE YOURSELF for them!  Lick your wounds then get back out there!

Living behind a wall where there is no room for love, happiness, pain and heartache is not living.
It is existing. It is lonely. It is not how humans are meant to be.

God gave us the ability to love.
To give of ourselves to others, to feel joy. God also gave us the ability to hurt. To turn to Him and others in our time of need. In our darkest hours.

It is in the dark, in the loneliness, in the pain we need God and each other more than any other time.

Embrace these feelings, these moments for in them He is working in us.
It is when we feel weakest we are strongest.

Who do you turn to in your darkest hours?

He gives power to the weak,
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, 
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31  NLT