Thursday, October 9, 2008

Behind Those Eyes

Is it hard for you to admit your vulnerabilities to others? To God?

This is the challenge question asked in the book study done at Lelia's blog.
The book being studied is called "Behind Those Eyes", by Lisa Whittle.

To say that it's been hard for me would be an understatement. This has been such an issue for me over the years. I have never wanted anyone to see the real me. It gave me nightmares to think that others could know I made a mistake or that I failed. Throughout my life I have always appeared to be doing okay, always appeared to be in control of things. When some of my friends confessed they had issues in certain areas I would counsel them, I would encourage them, never letting on that sometimes those very issues haunted me.

On many occasions my husband would say he doesn't understand how it is that I seem to have walls up all the time. I never understood where it all came from, but I know I pretended to be someone who I wasn't for a very long time.

Just the thought of being vulnerable to another person was always too much to bear. Many times I really wanted to open up to some of my friends about how I felt inside but after a while I would convince myself that it wasn't really necessary and that I would be ok.

There was a time during our marriage that I felt like nothing was going right and in a weak moment I opened up to a friend. I could not sleep at all that night, all I thought about was that I had showed my friend a different side of me. I felt like I would die, honestly. My friend was surprised of course because I had never let on that anything in my marriage bothered me.

On the other hand I wasn't too open with God either and I realised that's why it took me so long to get help and to get healed from some of my emotional issues.

I praise God today with the help of the Holy Spirit and with constant study of His word, God is helping me to be more open with my husband, my children, my family and my friends. After reading one of Joyce Meyer's book I saw the damage I was doing to myself and my relationships and that put me on the path to healing.

God has been so faithful that as I open up more to Him, He is showing me more of Himself and has been using me to help those around me heal.

It was not an easy place to be and it took a lot to maintain that hard wall, when many times I just wanted to break down and cry. I bless God for removing my heart of stone and giving me a heart of flesh.

Thank you Jesus.


Blessings,
Vickie

7 comments:

Lisa said...

Vickie,
I loved this post and so appreciate you admitting to what many women, including myself, have been held captive by...the desire to be seen as together and never let ourselves be too vulnerable. I heard your heart in this post and understand.

Thank you for being real. May you find freedom in your authenticity.
Lisa :)

LynnSC said...

Hi Vikie,
I loved your honesty in this post. It is hard to start the ball rolling in the "real" world... but I must say that the longer I work at it... the more "free" I feel. Who would have thought that "real" would be "free"??

Thanks so much for sharing your heart in this post. I could hear it.
Lynn

Sallye said...

Vickie,

Thank you, for being so real and so open. I am praying that through this study, God will teach us about true freedom,and being unafraid to be real with others. We are the testimony, and if we can't be real, what's left?

Sallye

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

Vicki-I understand about these walls. Mine have been there a long time too. Breaking them down is so very hard for me. We have to work on viewing ourself through God's eyes and maybe it will be easier. I want the walls gone!
Blessings!

In His Graces~Pamela

Terri Tiffany said...

Vickie, I know so many people can relate to what you shared here. Opening up our real selves to others isn't easy--it takes trust a a strength that comes from knowing God will catch us if we fall. So glad you have decided to pull down the walls and be you!

Runner Mom said...

Hey, Vickie!

Just visiting from Yolanda's blog. Great post for this week's chapter. It's hard to let the walls come down so that others see the real "me." Thank you for your honesty :).

Many blessings,
Susan

Carol said...

Vickie, such a great and honest post. It's hard I know, God's been helping me tear down those walls, and I know He'll do that for you.

Carol