Dear Fola,
I hope this letter finds you well and stirs your heart. For weeks and days, I have thought hard on what to write to you, but I failed to put my thoughts together because it felt like I was stuck in a bubble, and while I sat in this bubble of thoughts, I began to ponder on various topics that have tugged on my heart for a long time. I pondered on all there is to ponder, on joy, on peace, on love, on forgiveness, on patience but most of all, I pondered on strength.
Fola, permit me to write to you on the matter of strength. The concept of strength, as I deemed it to be has slowly been reshaped these days as I continued to ponder. For you and I both know that strength is very important in life. How could we live with little or no strength? For when strength is lost, the experience one has of life diminishes slowly.
Fola, can I be vulnerable with you? These days I think a lot and when I find myself trailing on for too long, I take a breath and say a short prayer for help. Then, I think about how often the Lord reminds us that His strength is made available to us, especially in times of weakness and I am prompted to ask; how can strength be made available in weakness? The concept of strength that the world has always taught us is to always appear strong. However, God’s word says His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses[1]. This means to be truly strong, one must be weak. But how do I admit that I am weak when weakness is often perceived as a flaw?
For strength as we know it is not strength as the Lord teaches. I realised that strength starts from a place of vulnerability and my dear friend, vulnerability is not my strong suit (or even Agbada)[2]. But then vulnerability is the centre and essence of our entire Christian walk. Now do I mean opening yourself to everyone that comes around you. Not at all my dear Fola. You would be putting yourself at risk[3]. Here, I am talking about being vulnerable with God.
I know the story of a man whose vulnerability brought great strength and I am sure you know too. When death seemed closer than ever in the garden, He prayed for the cup to pass over Him for in that moment He needed strength to fulfil the will of God.[4] In His vulnerability, He gave himself for us all that we might become strong in him. He became sin, He became weak, so that we might become whole.[5] So, to truly grow in our Christian journey and walk, we must learn to be vulnerable with God. Remember when He said that whoever would enter the kingdom of heaven must come like a little child? Why? Because children have one remarkable quality, they do not overthink vulnerability.
Have you met a child on the street who told you their entire family history simply because they felt at ease with you? That is exactly how God wants us to be with Him. Does vulnerability still seem difficult?
Now that we have established that vulnerability is important, let us slowly unravel why it is tied to strength. Fola, how do you think it was possible for Apostle Paul a learned man of great status and intelligence to dare say he would boast about his weaknesses?[6] It sure was no easy feat, but he had come to understand the biblical concept of strength. You do not need a doctor if you are not sick and you do not need strength if you are not weak. I want you to understand that being weak is not outside the ordinary because even in Isaiah 40:30, it reads that even young men grow weary. However, Isaiah 40:31, goes on to say that ‘those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength’. Remember how we talked about being vulnerable, if you are not vulnerable and trusting, can you truly wait? So, I learnt to wait and to trust, and in waiting I was strengthened. I know it’s counterintuitive that to be strong is to admit that you are weak and in need of help. But this my friend, is the truth about strength.
So, on this note, Fola, I have decided to become more and more vulnerable with God in my daily walk with him. Believe me, I am not perfect and I do falter and fail on some days but even on these days, I admit it and tell Him that I am struggling to be vulnerable and then I receive more grace and strength to be vulnerable. Every day is not the same but I know a God that is unchangeable and while my days change, I remain strong and unshaken because I have decided never to shift my gaze from Him.
With love and sincerity,
Ritabisola
[1] 2 Corinthians 12:9; “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”
[2] a traditional, flowing, wide-sleeved robe worn by men in Nigeria and across West Africa, often symbolizing wealth, status, and luxury
[3] Proverbs 13: Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin
[4] Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42
[5] 2 Corinthians 5:21
[6] 2 Corinthians 12:19
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