Sensitive Hearts- It's Time...

I'm veering away from my "Beautiful Things" posts for something that's been heavy on my heart this week. I hope & pray Christ speaks through these words, because my mind & soul are flooded with emotions and sins on this very topic... 

Here's my big question:  Are we, as Christians, being sensitive to our sister's and brother's hearts?

And by hearts- I mean struggles, strengths, character, [God's masterpieces...]

Something to ponder...

When I was growing up, the main thing I remember hearing at every church camp was- "are you ladies being modest enough to keep your bothers from "stumbling." If I was paid a dime every time I heard that said, I seriously would've been rich by my freshman year of high school! I completely understand the reasoning behind it. I promise I do (& did then, too), BUT I wish that comment would've been directed more towards their hearts instead of just their eyes...I also wish they would've addressed our sister's hearts...because we affect everyone around us...male or female! 
  
So, I think it's time we addressed it. We need to be sensitive to our sister's and brother's hearts. Yep. 

After realizing how much I've struggled  with my "comparison sin" and just now learning how to deal with it, I see my sister's and brother's hearts in a completely different way... I see them as a masterpiece to protect, heal, and encourage with the gospel. What do I mean? I mean with all the many things that our sinful hearts struggle with, there are others around us struggling too...and we might be causing them to be hurt, discouraged, or even to sin...without even knowing it! We need to encourage with the gospel! That will protect, heal, and truly encourage people around us. But how can we do this if we're not honest? 

Think with me a minute- If we truly live out the gospel daily, with serving others and doing life with our community, we should know each other's struggles. And if we know each other's struggles, shouldn't we make it a point to encourage and build them up, even in unassuming moments? Yes! If we ignore their struggles and don't nurture them lovingly with grace, truth, and selflessness (the gospel), than we could potentially hurt them and feed their struggles! So where do we begin? We begin with Christ. We begin by being honest with others about ourselves- after all, hiding our imperfections will only destroy us & others. 

To my sisters,

I want to elaborate on addressing our sister's hearts. As women, we have unique emotions and can feel a lot...all at once...at any given time. Growing up, this was no fun. Gosh, even now it's not always fun. Social events were sometimes torturous.  In my experience, everyone else seemed unaffected...but were they? The answer doesn't really matter, but the fact that I could only think about my heart in those moments...that matters. Why? Because our sister's hearts matter too...

I can't help but think back to all my church camp experiences. I seriously loved camp, but that "camp quote" always left me feeling guitly and frustrated. I could on forever about it, but mainly, I keep coming back to the need of shepherding girl's hearts. I firmly believe our girls need to know how powerful their words and actions are to other girls. Camp sometimes felt like a week of competion- who could get the most attention, who could rededicate their life the most, and who could get the most phone numbers by then end of the week. Honestly, real life can be this way too. Woah- big tangent! The main thing I'm getting to- I wish we could grasp within our souls- our sisters shouldn't be seen as competition, but as masterpieces to encourage.  I've mentioned how much I have struggled (and still struggle) with my comparison sin in previous posts, especially because of social media! It takes daily reminders to redirect my heart & mind from seeking approval and comparing myself to people who appear perfect & appear to have a perfect life. The thing is- social media isn't the cause...It started when I was so young. It started even though I was taught that Christ only mattered. In those moments- like being told in the 5th grade that boys didn't like me because I didn't have Adidas shoes- it's so easy to cave into our human emotions...It's easy to be affected by others... I realize life isn't perfect, I realize hurtful things will always be done and said, but our hearts should ache for hearts that care about others...our girls need direction! Our girls need shepherding. 

[Here's a little incite]- adulthood brings the same challenges- in different forms, of course! Each day can be a challenge, but we shouldn't desire for others to fail,  we should remind ourselves that there is no such thing as perfection in this life. If we believe that, we should be cautious about our intentions, actions, what we post, share, and encourage. What we do goes beyond ourselves... 

I think it's safe to say we all experience this hurt & sin at some point in our lives- and it's nothing but the pits, but we shouldn't justify our sins because of needing to "build ourselves up"! What I've come to realize- feeling beautiful isn't wrong...wanting to post fun pictures of life isn't wrong...but needing that approval, that is wrong. And guess what- me seeking that approval, that can trickle down and affect my sisters around me! How, you ask? I am ultimately telling them that their identity is in what they have, how they appear, and what they wear. You may disagree, and that's okay! But if you agree with anything, agree with this- our sister's hearts need encouraging. They need to feel beautiful and equipped, not because of their appearance, possessions, and relationships, but ultimately because their identity and image is in Christ. Are we encouraging our sisters in their beauty in Christ? Are we showing our sisters that we are fulfilled with Christ, not other's approval? 

If not...we'll continue to seek fulfillment and approval forever...and possibly cause others to do the same.

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This is true: 

Fulfillment can only come from Christ...

Our physical struggles are only a drop in the bucket of what our heart & soul battle. It's sometimes the easiest to see, but it doesn't mean we should ignore the unseen. You may struggle with something completely different. Regardless, these struggles don't discriminate. They are present in us all! 

The bottom line- everyone struggles with something. If we are aware of those struggles in our sister's and brother's lives, we need to build them up with encouragement and love....we need to pour the truth of the gospel in their bucket! 

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." ... 

Romans 5:1-11

Friends, be encouraged in your struggles...don't destroy yourself and hide them...be real...be honest...encourage others... 

Jesus redeemed them! 

And you are still a masterpiece that God created and loves...