“I’m fine.”
I hated my struggles, so I buried them.
Earlier this year, a traumatic incident sparked severe anxiety in me. I refused to talk about it or think about it. Only a few days later, I told my family I was fine when they asked.
But I wasn’t fine at all. I was just afraid of my own weakness.
I’m a Christian, so I have to be strong.
I influence young women, so I have to be strong.
I don’t want to burden my family, so I have to be strong.
I took on the “fake it ‘til you make it” mentality, faking my way out of reality. I wished away my pain and assumed it would subside. I wore a face that said “I’m fine.”
Haven’t we all?
Often times, we expect ourselves to quickly move on from trauma, loss, and mess-ups, glossing over our pain like it’s nothing. We hide out of fear of not being accepted. Why are we so afraid of revealing our brokenness to other broken people? Where did we come up with the idea that we have to be okay all the time?
In the past few months, I’ve seen God’s great power in voicing my struggles. I’ve seen Him use my pain to show others they’re not alone in theirs — to make them feel connected and understood. I’ve seen Him use my brokenness to share His message of hope with other broken hearts. I’ve seen Him use my suffering to strengthen my faith and others’.
And now I know, with all my heart and soul, that His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I used to think holding back my tears made me strong, but God showed me real strength is admitting my weakness.
We don’t have to pretend like we have it all together. We are all a work in progress. We all struggle. We all need a savior.
It’s when we acknowledge our weakness that we recognize God’s strength.
Bring your weakness to Him — He will direct you, protect you, develop you, heal you, and use you.
If you’re struggling today, share your story with someone.
Watch God work.
