Women’s Connect Devotion – December
Grab something warm to drink, get cozy and dive into this wonderful devotion from our Women’s Ministry Team member, Abbey Sindt. We pray it encourages your heart and inspires deeper connections for you in your life in Jesus. Merry Christmas to you are your family! May you be blessed to experience anew Immanuel – God with us!
~Rachel Greene
I have found that there is something almost every woman I have met both craves and fears: vulnerability. Oxford Languages defines vulnerability as “the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally”. Our hearts long for this intimacy while we simultaneously want to avoid harm. Vulnerability is risky. How can we expect to be vulnerable in a world full of sin, hurt, and pain?
During a recent Bible study, a great discussion on this question came up. One wise woman talked about vulnerability as an onion. There are layers that we can reveal with others to demonstrate vulnerability, but not everyone needs to see the deeper layers of our hearts. She proposed that the deeper layers are reserved for a limited number of trusted, godly individuals in our lives, with only God truly knowing the center of our “onion” fully. This concept really stuck with me and I wanted to meditate on it deeper.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” -Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23 repeats this Old Testament prophecy and tells us that Immanuel means “God with us”. The God of the Universe demonstrated vulnerability over two thousand years ago when He came down to earth. The Almighty could have chosen any way to come into this world: He chose to send His son first in the form of a tiny infant.
“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:7
Is there anything more vulnerable than a newborn child? Adding to that, this newborn Child was not born in comfort. He did not have sweet little ladies knit him a cozy blanket or have a team of nurses ensuring His safety and shelter from the elements the moment He entered the earth. He was born in a stable; exposed, dirty, and uncomfortable. Have you ever really stopped to think that the God of heaven and earth chose to rely on sinners to take care of him? For years He grew from infant to child and entrusted humans to care for His physical needs. Jesus is the only truly perfect One to ever live, so undoubtably Mary and Joseph did things wrong sometimes. He knew this would be. Vulnerability does require some risk of hurt and pain.
“And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” – Luke 2:40
Yet not just anyone had access to the newborn King in His vulnerable state. A limited number of individuals were able to truly know Him as the Savior early on in his life. His parents and a few shepherds (Luke 2:1-20), three wisemen (Matthew 2:7-12), and two godly individuals named Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-28, 36-38). His family fled the country to save His life and deny His enemies access to Him (Matthew 2:13-14).
Jesus’ birth demonstrates this powerful concept of vulnerability in a broken world. He opened Himself to not just the possibility, but the assurance that in the right time He would be attacked and harmed by the very ones He came to save.
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5
At the same time, in His vulnerable state as an infant, He allowed only a limited number of people admittance to His “deeper layers”. As an adult, Jesus chose the twelve disciples to live life instep with Him as He ministered. These men walked, talked, and slept with the Holy One. We see over and over their missteps, yet Jesus Christ chose to let them in layer by layer to His Holy mission.
As Christ-followers, we are commanded to be vulnerable on some level. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 tells us that we can boast in our weaknesses because they demonstrate Christ’s power. Paul even takes pleasure in his persecutions, distresses, and needs because God’s grace is sufficient for him. Oh, what a way to live! How do we find the everlasting joy in the hard things that we are going through and the pain that we endure if we can barely see?
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2
You might be saying, “Okay, Abbey, but practically speaking, how do we do this?” To boast in Christ’s strength and to bear each other’s burdens, we must get real about what our weaknesses and burdens are. We must start by putting ourselves in situations where we can share with other godly women, where we can do life together. Situations where iron can sharpen iron and build one another up instead of being torn down by the criticism and darkness of the world. Now, maybe more than ever before, women are craving connection and deep communion with other like-minded women. So many of us just do not know where to begin.
Sisters, I have great news! Christ Community Church is full of this kind of women and these kinds of opportunities. Let me end with a story…
When I first began attending Christ Community Church, I was going through an extremely difficult period of my life. As a chronic over-sharer, I had always lived and breathed vulnerability and it energized me. This was different than anything I had ever experienced. This was far too close to my heart and I did not know what to do with it. My usual outgoing and extroverted personality began to close in on itself during this time. For the first time (probably in my life) I began to think and act like I was an introvert. I prayed for several years during this time that God would bring some older women in my life to be as mentors, wise and experienced friends.
That summer, I forced myself to attend a Yada Bible study, not knowing a soul. The first few weeks were fine. I did not really get to know anyone deeply, but I felt a small part of my burden lifted just by being around these women. One night, the study discussion hit way too close to home. One question from an engaging woman was all it took for the tears to start rolling.
I only shared generally that I was going through a tough time in my life. The women I barely knew surrounded me with genuine love and support, knowing nothing about my situation. I felt relief simply being able to finally share that I was not “okay”. It did not matter so much that they had no details why. After the session, two women approached me. They tenderly told me that they had been getting together weekly to pray and share life together and invited me to join. The tears began flowing again. God had answered my years-long prayer!
I still meet with these women on a regular basis. Although we are from different generations, they are some of my closest and dearest friends. Being willing to get vulnerable even on a generalized level allowed the opportunity for me to build the kind of friendships where my deeper layers can be exposed. I am still stretching back out into my former self after this pain, but oh what a joy it is to do life together! My dear friends, we are sisters by our Father. Do not allow fear to keep you from forming the life-giving relationships that can help you bloom. Plant yourselves in opportunities where you can allow layers of vulnerability to be exposed. Start small. Join the women’s Bible Study, attend a RISE event, or participate in the Women’s Spring Gathering. Ask that woman that you are drawn to for coffee (socially distanced, of course) just to get to know her. Allow yourself to cry in front of a sister even if you can’t explain yourself yet. You never know how God is going to use your vulnerability in taking the first step.
~Abbey