The Power of Honest Connection
The message from Sunday’s sermon has been weighing on my heart all week. Our pastor talked about how so many of us are living isolated lives without even realizing it. We’ve gotten so used to doing things on our own, on our computers or behind our phones. It’s like community has slowly disappeared, and now we’re all just trying to get by, smiling on the outside but carrying so much weight with us inside.
One thing he said really stuck with me: “Strengths impress, but struggles connect.”
It is so true right? We spend so much time trying to be strong for everyone else. We think we have to have it all together, show the world we’re doing great, put on a happy face even when we’re struggling. But the crazy thing is when we hide our struggles, we miss out on the connection that comes from being real. We miss out on getting to truly know that person.
He also said, “Don’t suffer in silence.” And I just thought… wow. How many people are walking around feeling like no one would understand? Like they’re the only one going through it? When really, if we’d open up, we’d probably be surprised who can relate.
We’re not meant to do life alone. We’re not meant to carry everything by ourselves. But so many of us are stuck in this mindset that we have to be strong for others, or that sharing our struggles would make us a burden, when maybe what people need most from us is honesty. Vulnerability. A chance to say “me too.”
I left church thinking about how much better life would be if we stopped pretending. If we let people see the hard stuff, and not just the highlight reel. Because strength might look impressive from the outside, but it’s the struggles and relations that bring us closer.
And honestly, that’s why I’m here, writing these blog posts. I want this to be a space where we don’t have to pretend. A space where I can be real about my own struggles, and maybe in doing that, help someone else feel less alone. This blog isn’t just for you to read, it’s for me, too. A place to open up, to process, to remind myself (and hopefully you) that we don’t have to carry it all by ourselves.
If you’re going through something right now, I just want to remind you, you don’t have to do it alone. There are people who care, who want to listen, who want to show up for you. Don’t suffer in silence. Let someone in!