WOW! Another great week of Women’s Wednesday –thank you to Pastor Yeskeila Rivera from EIM Church that shared such a great word for us to ponder on.

Connections are built on TRUST!

Text of what we are reviewing:
“Craving Connections 30 Day Challenges for Real-Life Engagement”
By (in)courage community.

We have been diving in week after week and here are the highlights below.

“And finally He said to me, “My grace is enough to cover and sustain you. My power is made perfect in weakness.” So ask me about my thorn, inquire about my weaknesses, and I will gladly go on and on—I would rather stake my claim in these and have the power of the Anointed One at home within me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 [VOICE Translation]

It is okay to not be okay –it is okay to be tired sometimes.  There are weakness misconceptions and we can be using it as a means to build us.

As a pastor there is no room for weakness –not sharing.  This has been our experience.

But we need to be okay with being able to share on a platform that is safe and one that is build of trust.  The biggest lie that we can tell ourselves is that we are always “okay” or “fine” when the reality is we can be experiencing something completely out of the ordinary where we need that avenue to release.

There is a term called “Mind Traps” where we stay stuck in that false belief.  Take the should statements out that appear as a list of rules of how people should behave. I should act like this.  I should be farther than I am at today.  I should respond this way.  I should be a better this or that….

That paralyzes you.  It limits you.  It imprisons you.  It keeps you in a state like “I’m not good enough.”

God’s word doesn’t tell us that we should.  It says that we are –we ARE a children of God! Tear those false thoughts down in the “should” realm. God is our Father and we can be open and transparent with Him.  We can be open and transparent with others.  That is what this challenge to connection is all about.  Since God is relational He wants us to be able to connect and work well with us.  That is what love is all about.

Listen –being weak is NOT a weakness.  God is expecting us to trust Him –we end up overthinking things and over analyzing.  We start to say what people are thinking –we jump to conclusions — we have polarized thinking {black or white/yes or no}.  The mind has a tendency to flow to worst case scenario rather then the best case! Another MIND TRAP!  The mess in the minds where it becomes a personalization.

This leveling of the burdens –sense of freedom and support mechanism that we should use is to allow ourselves to open up when and where we need to.  That safe place.  Among safe people. With your brothers and sisters in Christ.  In a mature group of grounded individuals –that’s where.

We become burnt out because we want to be –that is not how we have to be or the way God designed us to be.  We need those outlets –YES God comes first and is our source.  But He has given us the power also in relationships.  It’s a beautiful thing.  Friendships are powerful!

We are not meant to carry it alone.  We weren’t created to be alone –it is about building connections, building relationships and leaving a legacy.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:18 [NIV Translation]

The risk is with love — we can’t love halfheartedly.  We love with our whole heart.  That is a part of it.  Connections are built on TRUST!

We cannot be afraid of people’s perception of us. We don’t need to pretend.  As Apostle Paul stated…

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10

Do we create environments that force people to keep their masks on???

Remember: God is concerned with your feelings!
Busola Adun — Women’s Wednesday 5/20/20 recap

We need to create and find that safe place.  Not everyone knows your thought process, so be willing to talk it through.  As you mature, you find those people that you will connect with.  As Jesus found three out of Peter, James & John –you will find yours as well.

BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS because we all need relationships!