Christ in Me

Life is indeed full of irony. I encountered this vulnerability talk again a few days ago and it got me thinking. I remember this song by Casting Crowns, one of my favorite songs I fell in love with back in 2008 when I was rediscovering Jesus. It is entitled "In me" and the chorus goes like this,

"Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that You want me
So I'll stand on Your truth,
And I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory,
By the power of Christ in me"

Let's face it, we all have weaknesses. Perhaps, even far too many weaknesses than we'd care to admit. And sharing these with others is a "no-no" because we are afraid they might judge, creating in our minds many assumptions of what they might think about us. This causes us anxiety. Therefore, we are better off not sharing it as much as possible. Fear and doubt cloud us most of the time that is the reason we put on a straight face. Usually, when we are asked, "kumusta?" and our autoreply is "Okay lang". Although it is not entirely bad because we always strive to be fine in times of adversity. I guess we should somehow keep in mind that it's okay not to be okay when you are really NOT okay.

One thing that I have realized is that acknowledging the fact that you are not okay is being courageous. Sometimes we don't see or we literally choose not to see or face our problems and tell ourselves we are "okay" even if we are not. It is is not a sign of courage instead, it is our way to escape our reality. We just close our eyes and hope it will all go away and fix itself one day without even doing anything about it. There is a term for this and that is "Escapism" which then becomes one of our favorite hobbies. It is like an addiction we are so fond of, like the best buddy you never had.

Nonetheless, let us remember, there is a Time for Everything. Let me quote this beautiful bible verse Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

A Time for Everything
1There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Yes, it is okay to be weak, to be seen as weak, to admit that you are weak, to accept the fact that you are weak because only then can truly face what you need to face. Only then can you be helped. Unless you recognize something as a problem, it will not seize to be a problem.

It is in your weakness that you are made strong by being vulnerable you are humble and brave enough to acknowledge, to be heard, to ask for help, to take some time, to be totally healed, to be wholly loved and to receive endless grace. That, in time, not in our own strength we may genuinely say, "By the power of Christ in me".

P.S.

Open your eyes. Wake up. Surrender. God is waiting.