Is vunerablity worth the risk?

Vulnerable

Is being vulnerable to others really worth the risk? You can't truly let anyone get to know you, your thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams, and ideas without being vulnerable to that other person. I read a book while I was at Baylor that was about this topic. The question was asked, is it worth it to be vulnerable to others? To literally give them the weapons (arrows) to hurt you with? Trusting them to NOT hurt you, to not shoot you with the arrows you are giving them by letting them in, by sharing with them your innermost thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams and ideas. The book also presented the writers thoughts and belief that you cannot truly know another person without then becoming vulnerable to them, trusting them, and sharing yourself in return. This level of trust with another is interesting. We as human beings are not perfect, we are not divine, and we really are not very often worthy of total trust. We so often do betray the trust of others who sincerely trusted us with their most private thoughts, fears, hopes, struggles and more. Why do we as humans hurt those who care for us the most? Is it worth the risk? Should we do it again, even after a deep hurt, betrayal, or unmet expectation of one we trusted, loved, and shared with?

I have to say, YES! It is worth the risk. after living long enough to have experienced both joy and dispair, both victory and defeat, met AND unmet expectations, I can say YES. Don't ever stop being vulnerable to another whom you feel God wants you to share with! It is worth the risk! The victories, joys, and met expectations far outweigh the defeats, the moments of dispair, and the unmet expectations! Look what Christ himself endured for us! Yes, I can go on and continue to risk for His glory! It's not about me! It's all about Him and sharing His love, His message, and following His word! It IS worth the risk. I will shake off the sting, the hurt, and the disappointment. I will trust Him. I will press on!

Jeremiah 31:3 says, "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee."

HE will NEVER use the weapons I give him to hurt me! Meaning, God will never betray my trust when I share with Him from the deepest parts of my heart, my thoughts, my fears, and more. He is always faithful and worthy of my trust, He alone. I am naive to expect a human to be divine. Only God is divine and capable of total trust with no fear of betrayal.

I will not stop risking vulnerability, I will pray for wisdom as to whom I risk this with, but I will not harden my heart. People are people, not Gods, and hurting people hurt people. I can choose my response and I choose love and forgiveness.

Like the title of my Blog, I choose joy! Life is too short to not forgive, to harbor hurts, to allow the to grow and become a cancer. God is too big to sweat the non eternal things and HE is in control.

Psalms 86:5 "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."

Matthew 6:14 715 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

I Kings 8"39 "Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

God is so good and I am so blessed. I am grateful that I serve and know the one true living
God who He alone is worthy of my total trust!