Kyea: Okay, note here. Truth is, the recent lack of posting has been more my fault than Fiona's. She prepped a few posts so that I could post them on a bit more of a schedule, and I promptly forgot to do anything vaguely website related. Whoops. So when it came to my attention that no one in her circle has posted recently, (Seriously, summer somehow always manages to get even busier than the school year. That whole "summer vacation" thing really seems like a misnomer sometimes.) I decided it was time that I start taking my role as website manager a bit more seriously. And now back to my sister for the post!
We all have a strong facade. That shell we present to the world that says "everything is fine", whether that's actually true or not. We despise our weaknesses. Fault ourselves for not being strong all the time. It poisons us through our thinking into believing that we will never be good enough. So let me ask you a few things. What exactly, is your definition of strength? And more importantly, when did you start believing you weren't strong?
Let that sink in for a moment. Children start out believing that they're indestructible. What changed? You've been conditioned to think that you are weak, but why? Who convinced that indestructible child that they were weak?
Just think on it for a second. Take your time. Remember back to when you were little and try to remember. Maybe it wasn't just one event, but a series of them. Was it a sibling telling you your singing voice sucked? A parent telling you that you should only cry when you're physically injured? Bad grades slowly dragging you down?
Have you pinpointed it yet? If you have, then ask yourself this: By what standard were you considered weak? Or maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
Go ahead and define strength for me. Not the dictionary version, but your own personal definition derived from your own life and experiences. Write it down if you feel like it, edit it, make it specific and clear. Now hold onto that. In comparison, what is your definition of weakness? Is it the inability to be the embodiment of your version of strength 24/7? Or is it more specific?
Here, I'll share my definitions with you.
Strength: The ability to manage all activities, responsibilities, and personal projects without crumbling. The ability to manage stress without becoming overwhelmed. The ability to meet and go beyond all expectations placed on me by society, individuals, and myself. The ability to "roll with the punches" and lead others to success in any given situation. To be immune to emotional downfall. To be self-confident, self-reliant, and self-managing. The ability to maintain a strong and pure relationship with the Lord, then to practice that faith in life with the world around me, to be devoid of sin and stronger than temptation.
Weakness: The inability to meet the criteria above, or relying on others for help.
Those, my friend, are two very poisonous definitions that have often become my downfall. I cannot possibly live up to that version of strength all the time! Or even part of the time if I'm being honest with myself.
We view our versions of strength as perfection, and any kind of failure to that strength as weakness. Where did we get this belief? How can we fight it?
We fight it with the Lord. Not fighting the Lord. NOT fighting the Lord, got it? We all know that doesn't go well. But fighting this way of thinking, with the Lord on your side. Thinking this way is conditioned. It has been drilled into your mind for years, and you can't overcome it with just a short blog post like this one. It takes time, and conscious effort! But it can be done. For where your strength fails, his is infinite.
"I love you, Lord, my strength."
Psalm 18:1 NIV
"But you, Lord, do not be far from me, you are my strength; come quickly to help me."
Psalm 22:19 NIV
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up. for your work will be rewarded."
2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV
"You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me."
Psalm 22:19
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