The Community of the Vulnerable

Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country … (Luke 1:34).

You are wonderfully and uniquely made in God’s image.  You are deeply known and deeply loved by God.  Jesus calls you his friend, and his Spirit has given you distinctive-to-you gifts so that you can be a difference-maker in the world God loves.

While none of us has the particular assignments given to Mary and Elizabeth, if we are Christ’s, then we are called, gifted and “sent” in some way.  And we need help!  This week’s Connect Devotionals have done some excellent work in unpacking the ways Mary and Elizabeth needed each other.

We have to go looking for what God has already supplied.  The kind of community we need, the kind of community God has prepared for us is often right in front of us, all around us.  But it’s not always obvious to us.  Sometimes the people we need aren’t just like us.

Mary hurried to Elizabeth.  At some level, Mary understands that what got her here may not be all she needs to get into God’s there for her.  No doubt part of her “hurry” was excitement: God has spoken to her, commissioned her, given her an incredible assignment!  Part may have been fear: how can I possibly be the mother of the Messiah?  How do I do that?

And a significant part of Mary’s hurry was her vulnerability, her sense of need: I can’t do this all by myself.  I need … help.  I need … other people.

Like Mary, like Elizabeth, God has “planted” some things deep in your soul, seeds that will germinate and grow and bear the good fruit of God’s kingdom in the worlds in which you move.  What God has planted in each of us doesn’t need to be a “big” thing.  If it’s God, it’s good, regardless of “size.”

Mary’s vulnerability comes to the fore as she gathers her courage to share with Elizabeth what God has said and done.  It’s crazy!  Unbelievable!  Incredible – and therefore scary to talk about.  What if Elizabeth laughs or ridicules in disbelief?  What if Elizabeth simply says, “No idea what you’re talking about, can’t help you”?  What if I really just made the whole thing up in my own head?

Like Mary, like Elizabeth, you are carrying something from God.  You might not recognize it just yet, maybe can’t quite yet put it into words, maybe don’t yet have the faith for it.  But it’s there.

And so are the friends, the community, you’ll need.  It will just take some willingness-to-be-vulnerable to find them.

And remember: they are carrying something from God as well.  Your vulnerability might unlock some things for them as well as for yourself!

And that could unlock some tremendous good in and for the world!

What has God planted in you that needs some help germinating and growing?  Who is one person you could talk to about it?  If you don’t have anyone you could talk to, contact our pastors, ask for their help.

Know someone who you think might need some encouragement in moving into what God has for them?  What’s one step you could take towards bringing that encouragement to them?

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