Fragile

by Cristen Vohwinkel (Next Gen Ass't)

Photo from Flickr

As a millennial, I am commonly labeled as ‘fragile.’ It’s something that I often push back against, because if someone were to ask me what I liked about myself, one of the first things I would be proud of would be my strength. So, how can someone who doesn’t know me or what I’ve been through decide who I am or what I’m like?

When I sit back and examine that thinking, I notice it is permeated with sin.  A few themes stick out in particular: Pride. Strength. The negativity of being weak. Letting others judge who I am.

As I’ve ventured farther into my twenties, I’ve realized a few things about this kind of thinking:

Firstly, that my pride infects my life in ways that I don’t always realize. 

Secondly, I need to remember that only God knows who I really am. Even that much isn’t always clear to me. But it is no mystery to Him and it never has been. 

Lastly, that being strong in the way that the world teaches me to be isn’t what God envisioned for my life. He wants me to be strong enough to understand that leaning on him doesn’t register as weakness. Truly allowing God to have control over my life means total devotion of that life entirely. He will always be strong enough to carry me through difficulties.

So, if leaning on my God makes me fragile, then I guess that’s what I want to be.