{my graphics are free goodies for you}
She walks to the front of the room and I think, “Wow, she’s stunning.” Lovely hair. Trendy clothes. Bright smile. Surely she has it all together.
She begins to speak and the words that tell her story are not what I would expect. She shares hurt, fear and a desire to be accepted. She talks of how our world only sees Instagram-deep. Then she says, “Behind all the beautiful there is always brokenness.”
I can’t stop thinking about it over the next couple of days. I’m at the Hope Spoken conference and it seems everyone around me is cuter and cooler than me. But after I hear Sarah Schneider I begin to look at all those adorable folks with different eyes. Maybe we’re not so different after all.
And I realize that online, some people may look at me with the idea I might have it all together as well. But I’ve shared here before that I don’t–I struggle with anxiety and depression. I still battle insecurity. Sometimes it still feels like I’m back in Junior High just looking for a place at the lunch table. Behind the beautiful there is always brokenness.
I think getting gut-honest about that is what helps the most. Because when we all just try to impress each other we miss out on a chance to bless each other. Sometimes the healing comes when we are the first to have the courage to speak our struggles.
We may worry that somehow we’re not living our faith well if we do so. But here’s what I’ve discovered: The cracks in our “perfect” facades are actually more like windows where people can most clearly see Jesus.
We do not need to have it all together. We just need to come together as we are.
We do not need to be flawless. We just need to be faithful and try again.
We do not need an “image.” We just need a God who can transform us in ways beyond what we can imagine.
We are all a wild mix of beautiful and broken. Shattered and whole. Weak and strong. We are beloved daughters of a God who treasures us more than we know. He sees us as we are and fiercely loves us still–let’s dare to do the same for ourselves and each other.
XOXO
Holley Gerth
This post is part of the What’s True About Us series.
****
In case you missed the announcement, the You’re Already Amazing LifeGrowth Guide Book Club kicks off Monday the 21st! The first week will be an introduction so you still have time to invite your friends and get your book. You can find more details here!
****
Welcome to the Coffee for Your Heart weekly link-up! You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday {link-up goes live at 5:30am CST}. Simply write an encouraging blog post and then share it here. Don’t have a blog? You can still write an encouraging comment. If you’re reading this by email, go to holleygerth.com to see all the fun and join in too.
Pretty please use this button in your blog post so others can easily join in with us {html code in right sidebar}. And when you link up your post, take a moment to leave an encouraging comment on the one that’s linked up just before yours. Thanks, friends!
I’m having Coffee For Your Heart with my friend Holley Gerth
{click to tweet that you’re joining me here today}
