Let them see your flaws.

The past few days, I've been listing to pastor Chuck Swindoll's messages that play on the radio in the evening. Normally I turn them down and let it play in the background while I cook supper. But when I turned on the radio on Tuesday, the subject he was talking about really caught my attention.

His message was on Being Vulnerable.  As I listened, it hit me hard. I only heard half of the message, but it's been on my mind all week.
As Christians, we often times feel like we have to have our act together. We have the answer to our problems, so this means we should have the answers to everything. Right?
But . . .Should we really?

Perhaps one of the best ways we can be a witness to others is by showing them our cracks. We have the light of Christ inside of us, but unless we become vulnerable, unless we allow others to see our brokenness, the light inside cannot shine through.

So many times it is in our humanity, in showing unbelievers that even as Christians we're not prefect that we are the best witness for Christ. We don't have all the answers. The difference is . . . we know and trust someone who does. And when people see that we trust in something greater than ourselves to answer the questions we have, they want that. Because the human heart cries out for meaning, to know the One who knows all things.

It's okay to say "I don't know" when someone asks you a question about Christianity.

Why do we go through such trials in this life?
Why does someone we know suddenly get diagnosed with cancer?
How can a loving God let the wickedness in the world go on?

Friends, we don't know the answers to these questions. And we never will until our pilgrimage on this earth has ended and we walk through the pearly gates.

But we serve a God who does know. We serve a God who is in control of everything. And one day we'll see how all the events of this life were woven into a tapestry by our God.

Moving onto a something that is perhaps more relatable . . . are you knowledgeable on a certain subject, such as technology, literature, cooking, baking, etc?
For me, it's medicine. No, I'm not in the medical field yet, but I LOVE studying medicine. This means that a lot of the time, because of that,  I get asked questions about it. And you know, so often it feels like I have to have the answer. But I've realized that we're human. We're not going to have the answer all the time. And that is perfectly okay.

Because we're not perfect. We're flawed.

It's our brokenness that brings us to Christ, and so often it's in our flaws that others are drawn to what we have. Why? Because admitting we don't know that answer shows something that is rare.

It shows humility.

It's good to have answers, but even better is knowing the One who knows the answers we don't have.

So let people see your flaws. Don't try and be perfect, or put on a perfect front. Because no one is perfect, and when people see you working so hard to try and be flawless, they are often pushed away.

Let's be real. And though it can be so hard, let's be vulnerable.  Let's show others our weaknesses, and in doing so, draw them to the Healer.

Everyone is weak, and only in Christ can we truly be strong. Let's show others that He is our strength.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Isaiah 40: 28-31 

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.