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!

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Pumpkin Cake

Submitted by Beth

So with Thanksgiving less than a week away (happy squeal), grocery lists are being made, food ideas tossed around, pie requests coerced, etc. One of my most favorite flavors is...Haha...You'll never guess: pumpkin.

I haven't met a person who doesn't like pumpkin... well, pumpkin everything. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin cake... Oh! Y'all. Pumpkin cake is incredible. I'm so thankful my birthday is in the fall; hence, I had the excuse of asking my mom to bake me a pumpkin cake. Oh, goodness. This thing is delectable to say the least. On her blog Cooking Classy Jacelyn shares this lovely and absolutely delicious cake creation.

I have a feeling my relatives will love this Thanksgiving treat. Doesn't that cake look sublime? (I feel like I need to say that in an English accent. Aaaaand... I just did. Try it.)

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An Open Letter to...My Sister

This is the first installment of the series entitled, "An Open Letter to...". If you would like to participate in this series, please visit the Guest Posting page!

Dear Sister,

There's a quote that says "there's no better friend than a sister." It's printed on Hallmark cards, and pillows, and art to hang on the walls. It's one of those clichés that you find when you do a Google search of "gifts for your sister" or "sister quotes." And, even though it's kind of cheesy and every sister in the world has heard it, I think it's true.

Sister, I've known you for your whole life, I've seen you grow up and develop some awesome character traits. You're so determined and strong-willed and responsible. Even at fifteen, I saw you exhibiting motherly characteristics and understanding things that were well beyond your years. 

I've been there through the good things in your life—I’m your number one fan, because I’m your older sister and I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. But I’ve also been through the hard things with you. There's no one else in this world who has experienced everything that you have, except me. Moving, our parent’s divorce, confusion—I know how you feel, because I feel those same things.

Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." We are sisters for a reason, we were born to love each other at ALL times (even those times when we were younger and we got on each other’s nerves), we were born to stand next to each other and stand up for one another and just be there when things were rough. 

I won't always have the words to say to comfort you, and I won't always be close enough to give you a hug, but I promise to always be available to listen to you, to pray for you, to cry with you and rejoice with you. Because you're not only my sister, but you're my dearest friend.

I want to say thank you—because you have taught me a lot. You are the first person I’ve loved more than myself, the person I was most sad about leaving when I went to college. You taught me responsibility and patience and how to laugh in the most ridiculous ways at the most ridiculous things. 

I hope you have learned from me as well, from my mistakes and my advice and the way I live my life. But what I hope you have learned the most is love. I want you to know and believe how loved you are, by so many people—our parents, me, friends, family. I want you to know and believe in the crazy good love of God. You are loved dearly, more than you can imagine.

I love you little sister.

Love,

   Brittanie

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