Strength and Vulnerability

God put Samson's strength in his hair so that he would have to be faithful to keep it safe.

Sometimes your strength is out there, but it's only vulnerable when you let go of God's directions for it. It's only vulnerable when you're not faithful to God's will. 

Samson's hair was outside, open to the rest of the world, vulnerable. But only vulnerable to those who knew a secret no one was supposed to know.

God gives us all gifts and places of strength, and some are on the outside, in the open.

And this is what God is saying to you about it:

I know I've given you a big heart and a gentle, compassionate, tolerating spirit.

And I know you've seen it often as a burden because it's in the open and vulnerable to the misuse of the world around you.

But I came to tell you that I didn't just give it to you so you could lose it to this world, and I didn't just give it to you so others could stomp all over it.

I came to tell you that I gave it to you with instructions. And here they are: love the loveless, cry with those without anyone to comfort them, give and keep giving to those who have nothing to offer back.

Your heart wasn't meant for just anyone, but it was meant for so many of my children to see and to know that I love them. Don't let the world have its commitment and its most important intentions, lest they misuse it. Instead, give it out and lay it down before me everyday and surrender it to me so that I may only reveal the depth of its nature to those who need it, those to whom I've sent your heart, and those who won't misuse it. Give it to me and trust me with it so I can protect it from the world, so that it can show impartial love.