Overwhelmed or Overcoming
The Danger of Focusing on the Mess
It seems almost fashionable for women in the internet world to emphasize, even glorify, weaknesses and frailty. We are, after all, weak and frail. And to hide that fact, especially as we try to paint a picture of our lives in this online community, would be lying as well as discouraging to others who often feel they are just keeping their heads above the water.
I want to be transparent. But I’ve discovered a danger in too much dwelling on our failures.
As Megan Hill put it:
“…all stories, including self-deprecating humor and amusing little blog anecdotes, have theological implications. As Christians, our current obsession with brokenness may have us getting a little too comfortable with a life defined by often-petty imperfections.” — The Very Worst Trend Ever
I can easily talk myself into being overwhelmed instead of an overcomer in the strength and power of God. And if I glorify my weakness (we only glory in our weakness because His strength is made perfect there), I can become lazy, misusing God’s grace to prevent me from embracing the transforming power of the gospel. I can fall into a “defeatism that may bleed into spiritual laxness.” (Owen Strachan, Patheos.com)
