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Benefits Of Vulnerability

God is teaching me how to develop, deepen, and steward relationships. I am actively listening to Him and following the wise counsel He has sent to assist me. It is an ongoing collaborative effort where I utilize the available resources to train my mind to believe in something beyond what my feelings and past experiences have told me. As a result, I have been opening up more and more lately. Although it can feel uncomfortable and vulnerable at times, I have discovered that the benefits of intimate relationships are worth it. Here are some of the benefits I have been learning:

  1. I get out of my head - My own thoughts can be toxic, I was a part of the problem. Like an echo chamber, my thoughts can become trapped in my mind, bouncing off the walls, repeating the same cycles. But I experienced a level of revelation came from saying the things out loud and hearing how it sounded. Some things need to be processed out loud.

  2. Validation of my feelings - Have you ever felt like you were the only one who could understand what you’re feeling or going through? Chances are, you’re not. I experienced a sigh of relief when I realized I wasn’t crazy for how I felt. We crave validation as a sense of reassurance that we’re not bugging. We desire empathy. That only comes through open and honest conversation.

  3. Develop new relationships - I was pleasantly surprised to discover there were more people for me than against me. Yes, some people fumbled the ball, but they taught me how to identify the right people. Other fumbles have recovered and yield a stronger connection. It’s a lesson worth learning. New people will come.

  4. Deepen old relationships - There are existing relationships you may not be taking full advantage of. Reassess your current circle. Rewarding relationships can develop from old relationships that come back around. Maybe it wasn't right at the time or the circumstances didn't allow for growth.. I won't block my blessing by choosing not to look again and look deeper.

  5. An opportunity to be understood – You will always be misunderstood if you never give people a chance to understand. Sometimes we expect to know what we won’t tell them. Sharing my experiences and struggles paints a clearer picture of me. We’re a culmination of the things we experience. If I want people to see the real me, I have to be willing to show them.

  6. Wise counsel from a believer - Advice in the world and advice in the kingdom are not the same. Our way of living is not popular or trendy according to culture. Advice from a brother or sister who has the same Father as me is filtered through the revelation of Jesus. I don’t have to sort through what is applicable to me as a believer, they just get it.

  7. Correction of false and/or toxic narratives - I’ve rehearsed lies so much to the point where I started to believe it. My faith is not always strong. My memory of God’s goodness has at times been eclipsed by the present situation I may be facing. An outside perspective can be a fresh set of eyes that identifies the lie and dismantles it with the truth.

  8. Mutual Growth - In healthy intimate relationships, we can challenge each other to grow and become better versions of ourselves. Through constructive feedback and encouragement, we can overcome personal limitations and reach new heights. Through intimate relationships, we have the opportunity to grow together with another person. We can learn from each other's experiences, perspectives, and insights, which helps us expand our own understanding of the world.

Remember, these benefits require effort and investment from both parties involved. It is a continuous journey of learning, adapting, and nurturing the relationship to make it flourish.


Pray with me -


Heavenly Father, thank you for the lessons you are teaching us about developing and stewarding relationships. As we open up and share my thoughts and feelings, help me to process them out loud and find clarity. Grant us the courage to develop new relationships, and to deepen old ones. May we be willing to show others who we truly are. Guide us to seek wise counsel from fellow believers, that their advice may align with your truth. Correct any false or toxic narratives that have held us back, and help us to grow mutually with others. We commit to investing effort and love into nurturing these relationships, for they are worth the journey.


In Jesus' name, amen.


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