I started reading Brene’ Brown’s book Daring Greatly again, realizing that true vulnerability is the key to unlocking deep peace and happiness. When I read it a year ago, I wasn’t ready to receive this information or maybe it was that, I wasn’t ready to take risks, get messy and endure the pain that comes along with vulnerability.
On my journey of healing myself and others, I’ve learned that “no pain, no gain” doesn’t just apply to exercise. Until we are willing to recognize the strongholds in our life, be willing to take a risk, trusting Jesus to walk through the pain with us of tearing down the strongholds, so we can truly be free and at peace, we will always struggle with them. Never fully being able to be love.
Removing the shame that fuels the strongholds is to me, taking off my mask and letting you really see my heart, that I’ve been believing is grotesque. Believing the lie that once you see who I really am, the thoughts I have, the mistakes I’ve made and continue to make, you’ll reject me.
The truth is, my heart is no longer grotesque! It’s pure, holy and righteous, washed by the blood of the lamb. When I mess up, it’s because for a moment I forgot, I’m God’s daughter, no longer living for myself but for him. When I live with an unveiled face and constantly share my heart and struggles, it brings you encouragement to do the same in order that you too can be set free.
Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourself. Well, I’m learning that to love him with all my heart is to put his will before my own. To love you as myself, it’s to take a risk, remove my mask, show you my heart and say I struggle too. It’s also being open and honest when I do mess up, confess it to you, willing to feel the pain of letting you down, without back peddling and making excuses.
Come with me as we together Dare Greatly to be seen and known.
Rhonda Ferguson
www.RFWellness.net