Five Minute Friday scribblings, Relationship, Trusting God

Share: When We Share

Jeanne Takenaka

Ladies sharing

By +Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka

My Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—SHARE. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. I write for five minutes on a given topic. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out our hostess, Kate Motaung’s site. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!

SHARE

God has a way of crafting our dreams into reality.

I’ve walked through a few disappointments lately. Who hasn’t, right?

I had one prayer, a very secret prayer, that I haven’t shared with anyone. And through my current disappointment, God is bringing that prayer to fruition. I have a need, and I don’t know how to meet it on my own. I needed someone to come and help me out a little.

We chatted a bit this morning—my answer-to-prayer and I. And God showed up. He spoke to me through her words. She shared what He put on her heart. For me to hear. And God opened a door for me to see how He wants to begin healing a very old wound.

When we can share honestly, vulnerably with one another, God shows up. He ministers to those areas in our lives—those secret hurts in our hearts—and He begins to brush healing across them.

Sharing involves risk. if we open up to another, we’re risking a piece of ourselves. We’re choosing to trust another with what’s going on in our lives, our hearts, our thoughts.

When we choose to share, we choose to let someone into our lives in a new, deeper, more intimate way.

Women Praying copy

And the good that can come from that fills us. With joy. With hope. God has a way of joining us right where we are when we’re willing to share with others, and with Him.

When we share what’s really on our minds with Him, we offer Him permission to carve out some of the lies we have believed, and replace those spaces with His truth. We open ourselves up to the healing work He wants to do.

If we choose not to share those things on our hearts with Him, He already knows them anyway. God often waits for us to come to the point of trusting Him. Of realizing we can’t go any deeper in our relationships, with Him or with others, until He does that work he wants to do in us.

share prayer

Sometimes the work hurts. But always, it heals. And sometimes when we share, God begins to work those dreams in our hearts as part of our reality.

What about you? When have you received the blessing from sharing? What happened one time when you risked and shared something?

I’m linking up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday—Share

Published by Jeanne Takenaka

Award winning aspiring novelist, Jeanne Takenaka, writes contemporary inspirational fiction that tackles real life issues with a heart to draw women closer to God and those around them. She lives near the mountains in Colorado with her amazing husband and two exuberant boy-men. She loves being God’s girl—always learning about His grace, hanging out with friends and enjoying a great cup of coffee. When she’s not writing you can find her with a camera in her hand, looking for #alittlebitofpretty in her days.

41 thoughts on “Share: When We Share”

  1. Thank you for sharing your words! It’s scary to put yourself out there and be vulnerable, but you never know (and may never find out) who read your words exactly when they needed to. Blessings as you continue your ministry! Keep sharing!

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    1. Andrea, I so appreciate you stopping by. As bloggers, don’t we always hope God will use our words in the lives of readers? That’s my prayer—that He will write through me to the hearts of those who will read “my” words. 🙂

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  2. Yes, it’s hard. I can share a lot more through this medium than I ever would in person, but it still takes quite an effort…and often afterwards the guarded part of me wonders if I shared too much.

    But it isn’t for me. My dreams no longer matter to me, to others, or, I suppose, to God. But what does matter is lighting a dark path.

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    1. I think it’s easier to share over this medium too. There’s a bit of distance, yet camaraderie as we visit and get to know each other. I sometimes wonder if I share too much too. I guess, if we’re doing our best to share what God puts on our hearts, then that’s the best way to be at peace with what we’ve shared. 🙂 And your words truly do light the path of those who read them. You inspire and encourage like very few, Andrew.

      Praying for you, friend.

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  3. Sharing DOES involve risk. You are so right. I think that’s why so many us have such a hard time doing it! I’m coming to realize that keeping us separate from one another is the devil’s scheme. Like a lion hunting its prey, he segregates us and picks us off while we are weak, exhausted, and alone. I believe God wants us to stay with the herd! (our Christian family) We are stronger together and to be together we have got to learn to share.

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    1. Elizabeth, I completely agree with you. Satan does try to isolate us, so he can pick us off and prevent us from growing with the Lord and being used by Him. We do need to hang with the herd! When we find those who are safe to share genuinely with? Even better! I love that God strengthens us when we stay interconnected through sharing. Thank you so much for stopping by and adding to this conversation!

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  4. I think you hit the very reasons we don’t always share: it’s risky. When we are discerning about who we share with, the rewards are worth the risk. In an AA meeting, when someone stands to take that risk and tell about their victory or struggles, after they’ve talked, the group responds with “thanks for sharing”. Jeanne, THANKS for sharing your heart and speaking to the hearts of others.

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    1. Debby, yes. When we are in a safe place to share, it’s worth the risk. I hadn’t thought about that same truth for those who are brave and share at an AA meeting. So true! I appreciate your encouragement, Debby.

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  5. Sharing with others is scary, but I have also found that, when we’re willing to be vulnerable and be honest with God and with others, he meets us there, and it can open us up to receive his healing. I know this but I still find it hard to do so I appreciated your post.

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    1. I’m so thankful that God is big enough, and safe enough, for us to share every part of who we are with Him. Raw honesty doesn’t anger or put Him off. It seems like we HAVE to be transparent before Him so His healing can begin in our lives. It is scary, and I still find it hard to do too, but I’m working on that. 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  6. Sadly, I think a lot of times, the reason we don’t share is we’re just too “busy.” Sharing involves “talking” and not just texting. Sharing is community. If we don’t share, we won’t grow, and we won’t open ourselves up to opportunities to help someone else grow as well. Some risks have rewards that we can’t even imagine.

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    1. Lisa, I think you’re right. Busy-ness is the enemy of intimacy—with people and with God. And it’s a great thing to hide behind when we don’t want to share. You’re right, face-to-face time with others does help us to grow, and it gives us opportunities to help others, and be helped by them. Loved your last line! Thanks so much for adding to the conversation here today!

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  7. Sharing does indeed call for risk…. So hard! But, I love that you reminded me of what happens when I do take the risk. Even if the “answer” isn’t what I thought or hoped for, letting someone into the process is holy. God has called us to communal living for so many reasons, right?

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    1. I love that one of the themes of your life is community, Annie. This lends itself to sharing. And yes, sharing can be holy. Sometimes, those we share with don’t tell us what we want to hear, but when they share truth or words of life, that’s far better.

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  8. Oh, yes. The sharing is hard and often the healing is hard. However, God does work amazing things when we open our lives to one another. I’m constantly surprised and encouraged when I see how He uses people in one another’s lives.

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    1. I’m with you, Amy. There is something beautiful to watching as God works and uses people in each other’s lives. I’m so glad we are the children who see their Father at work in amazing ways. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  9. As always, I love your post….you have such a way with words…..so many of the things I myself wanted to say, you manage to write them so eloquently….(I’m so glad to be back at FMF after such a long time away)….I hope your knee/you are feeling much better….Helen xx

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    1. Helen! I’ve missed you, friend. I’m so glad you’re back! My knee is healing,thank you. It’s a slower process then I would like, but God is using it to refine me. Surprise, eh? 😉 Thank you so much for visiting!

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  10. Questions at the end of a post are very thought provoking. You probably don’t intend for all of us to answer but I have shared and been surprised by the overflow of support and love and the opposite has happened, as well. Sometimes my timing is wrong and sharing is not going to work. But I’m glad its is never the wrong time to share with God. I like your writing and feel very drawn in by your words.

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    1. Actually, Gabriele, I love when people answer the questions. 🙂 I’ve been where you described. Sharing and been overwhelmed with the love and support of people. Sometimes, I think we just need an opening to be able to lavish love and support on others. And, we need to be open to accepting it when others offer after we share. 🙂 And yes, I’ve experienced the opposite too. And yes! It’s never the wrong time to share with God. I’m so glad you stopped by and added to the conversation here!

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  11. So beautiful, Jeanne. God knows us better than we know ourselves and He keeps pursuing us with His gentle and kind love. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into how He has been pursuing you to bring deeper healing. This especially is so very true: “When we share what’s really on our minds with Him, we offer Him permission to carve out some of the lies we have believed, and replace those spaces with His truth. We open ourselves up to the healing work He wants to do.” It’s Isaiah 30: 18 (AMP):
    Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].

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    1. I hadn’t coupled that verse with this thought, Anna, but you’re right. 🙂 There’s so much good insight in Isaiah 30. 🙂 I’m grateful (as I suspect, are you) that God is always ready to heal us and restore those broken areas in our lives. Have a good weekend, friend!

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  12. THIS: “Sometimes the work hurts. But always, it heals” Yes!!! It is so risky to share, but when we take the risk, incredible things can and do happen. Loved this post.

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    1. Tara, I agree with you. When we take the risk to share, God can do (and does do) incredible things! He amazes me in how He orchestrates our lives. I’m so thankful you stopped by!

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  13. Beautiful post as always, Jeanne. These words are especially meaningful for me: “Sometimes the work hurts. But always, it heals. And sometimes when we share, God begins to work those dreams in our hearts as part of our reality” Yes indeed! Thank you for this glorious reminder of the hope and help that comes as we share and open ourselves up to God’s healing work. Blessings. Xx

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    1. Joy, our God is one who heals. He doesn’t just focus on the physical, but on the whole person. And the process often hurts, doesn’t it? I’m thankful for His hope and His help as we walk through the pain. Thank you, as always, for adding to the conversation here!

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  14. Oh yes… this: “Sometimes the work hurts. But always, it heals.” So much truth! I believe God rewards our willingness and braveness to be vulnerable! It is risky – but it always does pay off! Praying with you… for you!

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    1. Karrilee, I’m so thankful that God honors our efforts at transparency, at becoming more like Him. I’m so glad He is a safe place for us to be vulnerable!

      Thank you so, so much for the prayers. They are MUCH appreciated!

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  15. I’m a big chicken in the sharing department–but I discovered the relief/joy/blessing of sharing when I shared our journey with our daughter’s bipolar diagnosis for the #write31days event this last October. It wasn’t easy, but it was was good!

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    1. Anita, I can be a big chicken too. 🙂 The posts I read from your 31 day series were amazing and encouraging. I’m so glad you shared! We never know how our words will impact others. 🙂

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  16. Sharing the deepest part of ourselves does make us vulnerable. And yet when we are able to do so and trust the one we are sharing with, the blessings are uncountable.
    A beautifully written post.

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    1. Colline, thank you so much for stopping by! I’m sorry it’s taken me a couple of days to response. I completely agree that when we share and trust others with ourselves, the blessings are uncountable.

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  17. When we are transparent, we are becoming safe for another to be transparent with us. This is so important in the healing process. To heal, we so need to share and be accepted by at least one other person. And know that God works through others, like he did for you in sharing, and hearing God’s words from another.

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    1. Lynn, I like what you said. When we are transparent, it makes it safe for others to be transparent with us. There is something amazing that happens when people genuinely share with each other. God has a way of working and weaving people together. Thank you so much for visiting!

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  18. Jeanne,
    oooh, I love that your secret prayer was a sister in Christ. 🙂 I just finished watching War Room a couple weeks ago and I immediately thought of that. You have really shared so much love, I appreciate you!
    Love,
    Tammy
    (not linked this week.)

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    1. Tammy, I haven’t watched War Room yet. I want to. Hubby was traveling when it was out, so we never got to the theater to see it. I’ve heard it’s a fantastic movie. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. You are such a special sister in Christ!

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