By Rochelle Lloyd

Vulnerability—the ability to be vulnerable.
It shows up in many forms, and most of us have to reckon with it at some point. For some, it's a minor inconvenience that appears in specific moments. For others, it’s a paralyzing fear that shapes nearly every corner of their lives. Most of us land somewhere in between.

But what does it really mean to be vulnerable?
According to Merriam-Webster, it’s defined as:

1. Capable of being physically or emotionally wounded and

2. Open to attack or damage.

No wonder we try to avoid it at all costs—even unconsciously. Who wants that? Most of us would instinctively say, “No, thank you.”
And yet, vulnerability might not just be one of our biggest fears—it could also be one of our greatest gifts. As Brené Brown puts it,

“The definition of vulnerability is uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. But vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our most accurate measure of courage.”

Yes, I know.
Some of you are yelling, WHAT!! YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!
Others are mentally backing away, trying to create emotional distance. That’s safe, whispers the subconscious.
Keep the guard up, and we won’t get hurt. We can armor up and protect the sacred space of our heart and soul—even from ourselves.
But as Einstein once said,

“A ship is always safe at shore, but that is not what it’s built for.”

Every choice carries a tradeoff. This is the law of polarity—when we say yes to one thing, we say no to another.
So if we say yes to safety—to never feeling too deeply, never risking pain—we also say no to love. No to joy. No to peace, compassion, mercy, trust, creativity, and even gratitude. We cut ourselves off from true freedom, shackled instead to fear.
It’s what keeps us stuck—unable to create, grow, or innovate.
And again, Brené Brown reminds us,

“…vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”

If we want change, we must dare to be vulnerable.

So, what were you built for? And how is being vulnerable courageous?

Great questions.
As for what you were built for—that’s yours to discover. But I believe with certainty: you were made for greatness and success.
Why? Because you were created by God. And that means the seeds of creativity, growth, and innovation live in your very cells.
He loves you. He wants to bless you. He wants you to succeed. He is a good Father.

And what makes vulnerability courageous?
It’s knowing the risks and choosing to show up anyway—for the sake of love, connection, or hope.
It’s giving of yourself without demanding anything in return.
It’s opening the doors to your inner sanctuary and letting someone see the real you—because maybe, just maybe, they need that light.

That is courage.

When we turn our vulnerability into something meaningful—something that serves, connects, and creates—we are choosing freedom over fear. And that is the kind of courage that changes everything.
Eventually, what others say or do won’t shake us.
We’ll have a quiet strength, a deep knowing: We are becoming who we were built to be.
We are co-creating our lives with God.

And just maybe, what we once saw as weakness—our vulnerability—will become one of our greatest strengths.

So the question remains:
Do we have the courage to be courageous?

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