In The Middle Of The Messنموونە

No matter your circumstances, here’s the truth: You have a story, and that story has its own peculiar mess. You can confess that story to Christ and let go. You can let Him start a work of healing, even now, right in the middle of your mess. You can also confess your story to your sisters; you can let them know they are not alone. The truth is, I need to hear your story, and other women need to hear your story. In the sacrament of sharing we feel less alone, and we create safe spaces for others to say “me too.” Our example makes it safe for them to bring their stories of pain to Christ for healing. In the sacrament of sharing, we also come to understand how loved and accepted we are by Christ, and by the safe sisters God has provided for us. Together we find strength for this beautiful, broken life. In bringing our shame and fear to the stronghold of the Lord, we mimic the path of Jesus. And just like Jesus, as we overcome our shame and fear, as Christ works resurrection in our lives, we become beacons of hope. Don’t you want to live this kind of life?

This, I suppose, is my closing prayer. I hope to live a life so open to Christ that He knows my every secret and shame. I hope, too, that I become like the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, who went into the world and declared to her townspeople, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did!” (v. 29).

Though her brokenness was completely known by Jesus, she felt His complete love and acceptance. And that love and acceptance encouraged her to build a bridge for others to find Christ. That’s not just her story; it’s ours as well. When we bring our secret shame to Christ for healing, when we experience His love and acceptance, we want nothing more than to bring others into this same experience. And when the world sees person after person stepping into the healing presence of Christ, they want to follow suit. . . .

I believe one of the greatest miracles of all is that when we live this open, transparent, beautifully broken life, we find true strength in finally understanding who we have always been: well-loved daughters of our Father God.