Vulnerable spaces are sacred spaces.

These spaces aren’t always chosen. Sometimes they are forced upon us: we are exposed in our insecurities, uncontrolled and unprocessed emotion. These are moments when armor and protections are no longer there and we are stripped raw.

And yet, the kingdom of God is made for the vulnerable. We remember when Jesus said we must be like a child to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:2-4). Children do not choose their vulnerability, they simply exist in it.

They have an intuitive belief that someone will take care of them — They simply trust that another will protect them.

The vulnerability of a child allows a natural openness to influence, newness, and growth.

Vulnerable spaces have inherent possibility, even if we wouldn’t have chosen to be there. The possibilities of transformation, or of harm, of deep wounding or of deep healing await. When we are laid bare, powerful shifts can happen.

Just like a child relies on others for protection and affirmation of their value, we need another who can see us authentically in our sacred moments of vulnerability; this is our protection. Our armor is love.

We have been taught to protect ourselves and armor up. We don’t know how to let ourselves be authentically seen. Though our tendency may be to retreat, what we need is to be reflected in a safe other: to know we’re sacred even when we’re scared.

Where can you find a safe place to see your reflection? Let us move to share our vulnerability with safe people who see us with love and reflect our value. When we share vulnerably, we can move into a different armor, the security of love.

Take a few moments and voice your state of vulnerability to God and to another, who is a reflection of Christ, and let them see you and reflect back to you your value.

Written by Chelsea Van Essen