Okay friends, we really need to talk.
This is something that has been on my heart for a while now,
and I really feel like this needs to be said. Someone finally said these words
to me, and now I am going to say them to you. Are you ready for this? It’s
going to blow your mind…
It is okay to NOT be okay!
Did you see that? Let me say it again: it is okay to not be
okay. I know; it’s crazy. It blows my mind, too.
You do not have to have perfect composure all of the time. You
do not need to have all of the answers all of the time. It is okay to fall
apart. It is okay to be frustrated with circumstances. It is okay to be
heartbroken, or angry, or annoyed. It is expected. You are human.
It is expected for you to have a meltdown if your worst fear
is unfolding right before your very eyes.
It is NORMAL to want to cry, because you’re overwhelmed.
It is okay if you want to be angry and raise your voice and
tone with someone who hurt you.
Yes, watch your words and guard your heart. And yes trust
that the Lord knows exactly what He is doing…because He always does…but PLEASE
do not continue to pretend like you are perfectly fine when you are not. It is
not doing anyone any favors.
Think about it this way. We are called to carry one
another’s burdens, but how can YOU carry someone else’s burdens if you are
bogged down in your own? You were never meant to carry your burdens alone. That
was never the design, but how can your community carry burdens that they do not
know exist? They cannot. So, instead of
trying to pretend like you aren’t human and faking smiles, take a moment to allow yourself
to admit that you need someone to lift you up! When we start allowing others to
carry our burdens WITH us, I think we will be surprised by how much easier it
is for US to carry someone else’s burdens WITH them.
I’m saying this to myself just as much as I am saying it to
you, I promise. I am so quick to try to carry someone else’s burdens, but I
have had the hardest time allowing other people to come along side me and carry
mine with me. That is unhealthy and it needs to stop.
Not only is it unhealthy, but I really think that if we are
honest about our burdens, more people would be drawn to the gospel. They would
see that we are all broken sinners saved by grace and that no one is too far
from the love of the Lord. I mean, I know that I don’t have all of the answers,
but I genuinely believe that pretending to be people that are superhuman christians isn’t
helping anyone….
Please just hear me. It is okay to not be okay. It's okay.
So, you lost your job…
It’s okay to not be okay!
You hate your job…
It’s okay to not be okay!
You were cheated on…
It’s okay to not be okay!
You keep watching doors get shut in your face that you desperately want to be open...
It is okay to not be okay!
Your watching a family member die a slow and painful death
IT IS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY!
I cannot say that enough. So, in closing, I leave you with the freedom to not be okay.
