“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16
I'm joining in today with "At the Well" and their challenge to blog on the topic of Being Authentic: being real, honest, and true with one another about what's really going on with our lives.
I'll be honest here from the get-go: it's hard for me to admit and share about my struggles and limitations with just anyone but the people who have proven to be "safe" in my life. I think that there is wisdom in that since we don't need to be spilling our guts and sharing the secret parts of our souls with just anyone - - - BUT, keeping everything to ourselves and pasting on a happy face when we need support is robbing us of God's blessings in this area.
I know this to be true; I have lived it first-hand when there were times in my life when everything was falling apart . . . and I was all alone. In that moment of truth, when you feel your foundations crumbling underneath your feet and you are reaching for that Hand to hold, God sometimes will send a real-world angel of encouragement to be Jesus in the Flesh for you.
All too often when dealing with a personal crisis of any size we retreat into ourselves and the people who love us are left feeling like there is nothing they can do to help us. They stand willing and able to meet the real needs we have at that very moment, but in our hurt and pride we turn away from them (in fear, anger, confusion) and in doing so, turn away from something special that God is wanting to do for us . . . through them.
Like I said, I am the biggest offender in this area. I have lived almost all of my 35 years not letting anyone see my imperfections, my limitations, my failings. I was consumed by perfectionism and wanting to appear capable of dealing with everything in my life. I still don't want to impose or have to rely on another person; I desire to have all of my loose ends tied up and all look beautiful. Living with the fear of failure and being consumed by pleasing others can make it look like I have no need of God and His help for me.
In being authentic here, I must share that I am dealing with health problems that limit my energy and ability to remain as "busy" as I was before, out of the home, on a daily basis. I have had to learn first-hand how to rely on God for my next step, my next breath, and my very life. I am actually in a fragile state of health right now IF I don't remember that I DO have limitations physically. I have neglected so much for so long that it's time to face the reality of how things are, and by HIS Grace, work through it all.
But, praise God for allowing me to partner with Him in His sufferings and to be walking in this journey of faith. There are so many things I want to DO and accomplish for God, others, and myself - - - but it feels like I am in a waiting period right now. I have been so used to working hard and setting goals that I am in a foreign land of taking one day at a time and valuing a new kind of normal. I am learning that waiting and resting are the other sides of the coin of moving forward and achievement. You need both to please God and have a balanced life. We all need to rely on God and NOT ourselves.
Being a classic overachiever and a person that could never say NO are part of the reasons I am dealing with having to rebuild my energy levels at the age of just 35. I literally was burning the candle at both ends and ended up running out of wax. I am learning to cherish and even crave a slower-paced lifestyle and each day provides more opportunities to see how my Father God is caring for me right now.
I don't know what the future holds, but like the saying goes, I know WHO holds the future and I trust Him more today than ever before. I trust God for His healing hands to cover me, but in the meantime, I am listening to His heartbeat and learning how to rest in Him. There are blessings to be found in the waiting, in the healing, and in the resting and renewal.
To God Be the Glory!
---Reaching for the hem,
Gina
I'll be honest here from the get-go: it's hard for me to admit and share about my struggles and limitations with just anyone but the people who have proven to be "safe" in my life. I think that there is wisdom in that since we don't need to be spilling our guts and sharing the secret parts of our souls with just anyone - - - BUT, keeping everything to ourselves and pasting on a happy face when we need support is robbing us of God's blessings in this area.
I know this to be true; I have lived it first-hand when there were times in my life when everything was falling apart . . . and I was all alone. In that moment of truth, when you feel your foundations crumbling underneath your feet and you are reaching for that Hand to hold, God sometimes will send a real-world angel of encouragement to be Jesus in the Flesh for you.
All too often when dealing with a personal crisis of any size we retreat into ourselves and the people who love us are left feeling like there is nothing they can do to help us. They stand willing and able to meet the real needs we have at that very moment, but in our hurt and pride we turn away from them (in fear, anger, confusion) and in doing so, turn away from something special that God is wanting to do for us . . . through them.
Like I said, I am the biggest offender in this area. I have lived almost all of my 35 years not letting anyone see my imperfections, my limitations, my failings. I was consumed by perfectionism and wanting to appear capable of dealing with everything in my life. I still don't want to impose or have to rely on another person; I desire to have all of my loose ends tied up and all look beautiful. Living with the fear of failure and being consumed by pleasing others can make it look like I have no need of God and His help for me.
In being authentic here, I must share that I am dealing with health problems that limit my energy and ability to remain as "busy" as I was before, out of the home, on a daily basis. I have had to learn first-hand how to rely on God for my next step, my next breath, and my very life. I am actually in a fragile state of health right now IF I don't remember that I DO have limitations physically. I have neglected so much for so long that it's time to face the reality of how things are, and by HIS Grace, work through it all.
But, praise God for allowing me to partner with Him in His sufferings and to be walking in this journey of faith. There are so many things I want to DO and accomplish for God, others, and myself - - - but it feels like I am in a waiting period right now. I have been so used to working hard and setting goals that I am in a foreign land of taking one day at a time and valuing a new kind of normal. I am learning that waiting and resting are the other sides of the coin of moving forward and achievement. You need both to please God and have a balanced life. We all need to rely on God and NOT ourselves.
Being a classic overachiever and a person that could never say NO are part of the reasons I am dealing with having to rebuild my energy levels at the age of just 35. I literally was burning the candle at both ends and ended up running out of wax. I am learning to cherish and even crave a slower-paced lifestyle and each day provides more opportunities to see how my Father God is caring for me right now.
I don't know what the future holds, but like the saying goes, I know WHO holds the future and I trust Him more today than ever before. I trust God for His healing hands to cover me, but in the meantime, I am listening to His heartbeat and learning how to rest in Him. There are blessings to be found in the waiting, in the healing, and in the resting and renewal.
To God Be the Glory!
---Reaching for the hem,
Gina
Beautiful honesty! Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMaranatha,
Marcia
Thank you Marcia! God bless you...
Delete---Gina
I can so relate to this. I'm so used to being the "fixer" that everyone brings their problems to, and it can be really hard to open up about struggles. I'm sorry that you've been having health problems and I pray for healing for you. It's so encouraging to read your writing, though, because your heart for God is so lovely!
ReplyDelete(((Amy))
DeleteThank you so much for your comment and prayers. I appreciate our friendship and your love for the LORD.
Blessings,
Gina
Visiting from At the Well. I can relate to your post. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Natasha. God bless you -
Delete---Gina