Man Up! Sample

BRAVE VULNERABILITY

Many people would be willing to take a stand against a grave injustice like genocide, but Esther's valor goes beyond. In the last part of the story, Esther shows her true feelings. "Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews" (Esther 8:3, NLT).

I am sure that Esther's nerves were frayed at this point. The pressure of the past few days was taking its toll. She risked her life to save her people without blinking an eye. She exposed Haman's wickedness like a true heroine. But she was only human.

Showing vulnerability is scary. Brene Brown, a vulnerability specialist puts it this way: "Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage". People who man up are willing to show their weaknesses.

Do you find it difficult to be vulnerable? Perhaps you think that God expects you to be brave. He doesn't. He invites you to come to Him as you are. "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most" (Hebrews 4:16, NLT). 

Do you struggle to show weakness to those around you? "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16, NLT). Be brave! Man up!