vulnerability.

I was listening to a podcast the other day and Rebekah Lyons explained the difference between transparency & vulnerability.

"Transparency is sharing where you've been."

"Vulnerability is sharing where you are."

Most of my posts have been me sharing something that happened in the past and how I learned or grew from that (aka transparency), but after listening to Rebekah, I realized the importance of authenticity and the value found in sharing with others where you’re at now (aka vulnerability). Whether that be you at your lowest of lows, embarrassed or unsure of how you’ll ever overcome or deal with [fill in the blank], or you at your highest of highs, simply ecstatic about life; being vulnerable with others allows us to jump into a deeper and more authentic relationship with those around us, Jesus, and ourselves.

This is about to be me sharing where I’m at now. Vulnerable and sort of unsure as to where exactly I’m at right now & where exactly I’ll end up at the end of all this.

I just went home for a week for fall break & I had a feeling it would be hard to leave again and go back to Dallas at the end of the week. Well here I am right now & I wasn’t wrong about that. After being back home for a week, surrounded by the comfortability of my home, my city, my family, my friends...it’s hard to go back to the discomfort of a place that’s still so new to me and so different from home. I love Dallas, I really do, but it’s my new temporary home & I’m still getting used to it. A friend reminded me earlier this morning that these first few times going back and forth between home and school are going to be difficult, but sooner than we know it’s going to become easy. This is simply preparing us for what’s to come and forcing us (in a good way😉) to grow up!!

I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss home, but I am constantly trying to remind myself that DBU & Dallas, TX is where God wants me. I remember the moment I made my decision to go to DBU & I remember how much peace and certainty I felt in that moment. I knew, I knew, I knew (!!!) it was where I was supposed to go & I had no doubts whatsoever. I constantly remind myself of those clear feelings of certainty I experienced a few months back to remember that Jesus has me right where I'm supposed to be and He will continue to be faithful in this process.

Something else Rebekah shared in the podcast that I wanted to pass on to y'all was this:

"We always act like we have to have it all sorted out and the truth is we absolutely do not, but we serve a God who does and because that is so, I can come with my vulnerability, in my frailty, and I can meet him where I'm at knowing that He fills in the gaps, He restores my soul, and He sets my feet on higher ground."

Every day I’m praying that God would comfort me in being away from home & continue to show me and remind me that this is His greater plan for me. He’s already done this by telling me I’m not alone in this new environment & surrounding me with some amazing, amazing people.

&&& well that’s where I’m at. Unsure of what the future brings, but sure that my Father is looking out for me, taking care of me, loving me, comforting me, and constantly watching over me.

Being vulnerable isn’t easy. It’s sometimes embarrassing, it’s sometimes scary, and it’s sometimes uncomfortable. Yet I shared this because I’ve realized how important it is to be authentic and vulnerable and sometimes let people know that you don’t always have it all together!! I think practicing being vulnerable is something that will take some time, but I believe that the outcome of doing so and the things that the Lord could reveal to you in being vulnerable will be more rewarding than any of us could ever imagine.

My original intent in creating this blog was to be able to simply “do life with others” & in “doing life with others” I believe both transparency + vulnerability are very important.

So together, I say we all take the advice of the wonderful Rebekah Lyons & see how living in transparency + vulnerability could lead us into a life of authenticity with ourselves, others, and our God.

Wishing y’all the best week:)

xoxo,

b.