Tearing Down the Walls

-By Sunny Bodenhamer

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."
Hebrews 10:23-25

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11

I was spending time with a dear friend recently and it was a time of tears, joy, shared fears, and pouring out our hearts to each other in raw honesty. That conversation left me in awe of our great God’s grace, power, and overwhelming love, as I pumped my fist toward the sky saying, “Yay God!” with the hugest grin on my face. But it also made me think. Our souls can’t help but be thirsty in this desert of a world, so parched and starved of godly rain. The world pours in at a constant rate and if we’re not careful, it will drown us.

Most times it’s just so much easier to lock away all the hurt, pain, and problems we face…to stuff them down deep and cover them up with that fake smile. Way easier. It’s hard to face them again and go through the exhausting roller coaster of emotions that comes along with that, but I ask you—how else can we heal? How else can we let go of that sorrow if we keep hoarding it away in the recesses of our soul until we are so crammed full we explode?

I want to ask you something else as well. I know pain is never fun and heartache seems unbearable. I know it often feels as if God doesn’t care or has abandoned you, but what if everything you’ve gone through—every bruise, ache, and failure—has been for a very special purpose? What if those things are the very things that make you who you are, with a completely unique view of the world? And what if you shared who you really are inside? What if the person you shared it with was hurting deeply, but too afraid to share it, wondering if anyone in the entire world could understand? Then, what if that completely unique view allowed you to understand that person’s pain like no one else can?

It’s hard to open up and expose the real you, that bruised and scarred heart, because it means being vulnerable to someone who could hurt you…again. I get it. But we need that more than we know. We can’t keep stifling our pain, lying to ourselves and others that we’re okay. The truth is, most likely the person you think would never understand because they’re way too perfect all the time is the very person who would shed tears of joy just to know there’s someone who understands the pain they too have been hiding behind their own smile.

We need each other. We are sisters in Christ, and we need to bond together and tear down this foolish wall of lies that we’re doing fine all by ourselves.

Life is beautiful, but life is also hard. The only way we can make it through is by the grace of God and the support of others. Don’t try to go through it alone. Don’t tell yourself to tough it out. That’s how people slip into despair and give up all hope.

I’ll say it again—we need each other. You would be amazed at how people respond when you simply let down your guard and are real. It’s like a breath of fresh air. If they see you have the courage to show the raw edges of your soul, it gives them hope that maybe, just maybe, they could do the same. The Lord will use you and shine through you if you tear down the wall that’s smothering His light. He created you for a beautiful purpose and takes the ashes of our lives to creates a masterpiece, if we allow Him.

If we don’t pour God’s word into our thirsty souls and surround ourselves with godly people and friendships, the world will drown us and suffocate our light. However, friendships will never deepen unless we invest in them. People can sense when you’re not being real, and if we box ourselves in, we shut others out too.

Don’t be afraid to show who you are. You might be surprised at how many people can relate and will let out a sigh of relief just to know they’re not alone. Sure there might be some who don’t understand you, but isn’t it worth it if there’s even a handful of people you have a chance to encourage and lift up in so many ways?

Who knows, yours words of, “I’ve been there and it’s hard, but you’re going to make it through. God will give you strength and He will never fail you. He has a plan for your life,” may be the one thing the Lord uses to keep that person going when they feel like giving up.

We are broken people desperately longing for hope. Just by being the love and the light of the Lord through your honesty, you could change someone’s life. The Lord may use you to be or to speak His life-giving hope to a hurting heart. Will you be willing to let Him? You never know, maybe that sweet fellowship with a  fellow believer that comes along with opening your heart and exposing your soul could be the very thing that will heal you as well.

Keep pressing on, friend, through the power of Christ’s love and the hope we have in Him. You are beautiful and perfect in your Heavenly Father’s eyes because of the sacrifice of His Son, no matter the scars adorning your heart.

Sunny Bodenhamer is a Christian, homeschooled girl learning to be a light in this crazy, amazing life we’ve been given, reach for the stars, and believe that anything is possible through Jesus Christ. She believes that every day is a miracle full of second chances and beauty, if we stop and take the time to see it. She loves to write, crochet, drink coffee, and hopes to inspire and encourage through the written word.

Have you ever seen God use hurt in your life to heal others? Do you have a hard time opening up to others? Thoughts or stories? Share in the comments!