“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me” (Revelation 3:20, NRSV).

How often are we truly vulnerable? 

The 21st century is a world of image and branding. From our social media presence to how we act around peers and acquaintances, we curate a version of ourselves that appears favourable and attractive to others. Our identity is tied up with how the world perceives us, and how successful we are in our endeavours. 

Doesn’t it make sense then that being vulnerable can be terrifying? Despite all our attempts to control our lives, no one is perfect and no one has it all together. It’s easier to be known for our successes and what makes us likeable than to expose our struggles and parts of ourselves we may be ashamed of.

In her 2010 TED Talk, Brené Brown states that vulnerability is necessary when it comes to making connections with others. I think this is a helpful way to approach being vulnerable with God. Ultimately, there’s no way we can curate a version of ourselves that our all-knowing God cannot see through. Awareness of this fact can lead us to avoid God altogether, or to keep a distance from Him. We’re so used to curating an image of ourselves for others that we often believe it’s impossible for anyone to love us unconditionally, to see our imperfections and still remain with us.

During my first Steubenville Conference in 2016, one of the speakers talked about allowing God into our hearts. As someone who had always bottled up their feelings, dreams, and fears, not sharing them with anyone, hearing that phrase helped me enter the vulnerable mindset necessary to have a connection with God. Later, during Adoration, I invited God into my heart for the first time. Allowing God into the space I had always closely guarded was such a freeing and healing experience, as I intimately felt God’s personal love for me. Needless to say, choosing vulnerability and surrendering to God changed my life forever. It was the first step in developing a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe.

Maybe we’re all like houses: on the outside, it can look beautiful and put together. There’s a maple tree on the lawn, bright flowers in terracotta pots, a “welcome” mat placed outside the front door. 

But on the inside everything is coated with a layer of dust, the sink is full of unwashed dishes, the garbage needs to be taken out and there are piles of boxes that need to be emptied. The discrepancy is painful—shameful even. 

Wherever you are in your relationship with God, this is where He wants to enter: the place of messiness and shame. This is where He can heal and restore, and how we become aware of His goodness and gentleness. When we let God in our house, we can watch Him wash the dishes and dust the furniture. When He’s in our hidden place, we can receive mercy in the places we are most desperate to have redeemed. It’s how we receive the greatest of loves, a love exemplified by the cross.

Vulnerability with God is the path to truly being known and loved for who you are. Do you hear Him knocking? Will you let Him in?

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