What If Christians...

My son is the king of the "what-if's" in my house. But today, I am going to ask:

What if?

What if as Christians we kept all of our hurts to ourselves?
What if we never talked about our doubts?
What if we never shared our personal experiences?
What if we never never specified our prayer needs and always left our requests generic?
What if we never admitted we felt defeat?
What if we never admitted we needed support?
What if we never admitted we screwed up?
What if we never admitted we sinned?
What if we never admitted we were sick?
What if we never admitted we had addictions and needed help to over come them?
What if we never admitted that our relationships were suffering?
What if we never admitted we'd been abused in in a violent relationship?
What if we never admitted we'd been wrong?
And more importantly, what if we never answered those who sought us for the above?

What if?

If we never admitted our brokenness, never allowed anyone to see the transparent people we are, would we be a false image of Christians who live perfect lives making each other feel that we had to continue to hide? Would we be able to help or assist others who have been in the same circumstances of situations? Would we know we could share resources and success stories? Would we be able to offer each other HOPE or pray for each other?

Or would we just seem like Christians who are just peachy when in reality our jars were just too broken to carry all the peaches? Are the beans spilling out of your jar, yet those around you don't know why? I'm not suggesting each person walk around and tell the world about their brokenness and we focus on negativity. But, at the same time, we need to realize that what makes us broken can make us complete. We can share and start the restoration process.

It's no secret anymore. I am a survivor of domestic violence. And I stopped hiding it. Does it change who I am? Does it make me weaker or needy? Does it imply that I did anything to deserve it? Does it mean that I am incapable of future relationships or standing my ground? NO, NO, NO! The only thing that allowed that kind of thinking was my own hidden shame. Keeping it a secret, was the only thing making it a secret. So, I'm a survivor and I can kick some *donkey*. I'm sharing my story. Why? Because I am NOT a victim. I am a survivor and now there can be two people (one drawing strength from me-and me giving the strength that I gained). There can be TWO chicks capable of kicking *donkey* in the name of survival. And each time a story is shared, it just means that the number of survivors increases. For each survivor the opposition looses!

If you think that testosterone can win a war...you ain't seen anything till you witness some estrogen in action.

Doesn't stand a chance. Period.

Christians-come together and BE Christians to each other. Stop hiding! When we try and fight alone, we give the opposition fuel, doubt, and everything He needs to defeat us!

Remember:
Straight from the Bible...
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.


If your story and account of personal success can give one person a glimmer of hope, to overcome the obstacles, defeat, and hurt...wouldn't it be better to show them the scars from a healed battle than to let them only focus on theirs as they lay wide open and gaping? Could part of the healing process be admitting that our brokenness is not defeat and something to hide? Could we start celebrating our victories and focusing on the future full of bright possibilities?

We hide what we are ashamed of. And sometimes those things are not our fault. But we continue to keep them hidden.

Abandonment
Abuse
Addictions
Loss
Depressions
Disabilities
Divorce
Sin

To me, it just seems logical that the restoration cannot begin until it is brought into the light. Why? The surgeon can't see to fix anything while it's stuck in a dark closet. Bring it to where the light and tools are!

The tools:
Acknowledgement (That it needs to be out in the open and get fixed. Even if it's between just two people.)
Prayer
Scripture
Church
Community of believers
Support of Small groups
Loved ones
Anyone else beneficial to your team

We are not a perfect church, filled with perfect people, living perfect lives. Have you ever wondered...what if the opposition wants each of us to sit and suffer in silence in times of our greatest needs? What better way than to make us think we are alone when we certainly do not have to be.

What if we changed this?