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This article is an adaption from one of Pastor Reed’s weekly reflections. Go to the pastor’s page on our website to see more. Pastor Reed usually posts new reflections on Tuesdays

There is Strength in Vulnerability,
There is Weakness in Stubbornness
 

 …[the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for   power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10
 
Do you ever find it hard to admit you are not good at something and/or need help from someone else? I think I can make the safe assumption that most people (myself included) fit in this category. In fact, our country is built on a resistance to being vulnerable. We live in a pick-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps society that sees strength as hiding or overcoming our weaknesses.
 
For some reason we are called to put up a perfect picture for ourselves at all times. Many times there is a façade to not tell others because one doesn’t want to be a “bother”. Others are more straight forward and do not wish other people to know their business or perhaps they don’t want the pity party coming their way. That is their right as human beings to have some privacy. My annoyance, though, as a pastor is the consistency at which people do not want help from others, not even God.
 
We have a seldom used prayer chain at our congregation. This is an opportunity to have people on your side pleading to God for help of any kind. Yet, people even on their death beds sometimes refuse it as an option because they don’t want people to know they are dying until it has already happened.
 
Maybe for you it’s some help around the house or help with an errand that you want to do by yourself. The thought is that you would rather fail by yourself and not get the job done than get the task at hand done with assistance.
 
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians we read about boasting in our weaknesses. This means that we lift up our faults because it is even more amazing that God’s grace and power can work through such imperfect beings. How are we ever going to boast of the greatness of Jesus if we are unwilling to be honest about the sinful and sloppy mediums Jesus has chosen to work through? What did Jesus die for if we are unwilling to name our faults and sins?
 
It is true that Jesus died for us even though we are still sinners. That is the strength of grace. It is more powerful than our faults. That is why we can confess freely in church what we have done because we have faith that Jesus is more powerful than our own selfish acts.
 
It is also true that many hands make light work. If we are to be the Body of Christ together than that means we need to be open and vulnerable to one another. We need to be open to receiving help and also vulnerable so others can pray and be with us in our dark times.
 
It takes a good amount of strength to be vulnerable for someone and let them in. It is cowardice, not strength, that puts up a wall to the world about their health and need for help. Maybe this is why Paul  also wrote, “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
 
Too often I find people willing to help others, but unwilling to be helped by someone else. Rest assured, in this plea for confession and vulnerability I will give my own: I stink at asking for help. It is very easy to know when I need it because I will draw away from others and overuse the word ‘fine’ when talking about myself.
 
I am telling this to you because I want to practice what I preach. I am imperfect, but God loves me anyways. Jesus died for me anyways. I hope you find this article helpful and it inspires you to lean on others and most importantly to lean on God. If you have a need or a health concern that you have not been sharing, let it out. Remember, many hands make light work. Many hearts make light work of the burdens we have in our own lives.
 
God bless you and keep you! God’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. God look upon you with favor and give you peace!
 
Points to Ponder: