27 Aug The Power of Vulnerability

27 August 2023

THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY

And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” (Genesis 16:8, Recommend reading the full chapter)

The story of Hagar in Genesis 16 reflects the power of vulnerability. Vulnerability is the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. It is that unstable feeling of uneasiness when we are not in our comfort zone or when we lose control—for example, taking risks that might lead to rejection, talking about our own mistakes or facing difficult emotions like fear and shame. However, vulnerability is powerful. Renee Brown said, “Owning our story can be hard, but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerability is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love, intimacy and belonging”.

Hagar entered the story as a vulnerable character. This was the first time she spoke in the story. She had no voice, a woman servant and an object of another’s command. But when she and her son Ishmael were banished and had to step out of their comfort zone and journey into the wilderness, Hagar realised herself as a human being, an individual rather than a property. There are many people like Hagar in our communities who have been banished from their homes and suffering. What should we do to help them? Being vulnerable may be seen as a weakness, but it is a strength. It can be the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging and love. Let us not forget to teach each other the value and foundation of our faith.

The wilderness presents a new perspective of seeing God’s covenant not only descending from a male but also from a female, Hagar. Through Hagar, Ishmael found his place as a freed, courageous child who grew through her mother’s arms. In the wilderness, Hagar is exposed to the danger of being devoured by wild animals, starvation, and homelessness. However, in her state of vulnerability, Hagar encountered God, and she named God El Roi, the God who hears and sees. Hagar’s experience with God reminds us that our God is bigger than any problems we encounter in life. God knows our struggles, our cries and our pain. When our lives are down, God is always up to something better.

After God made a covenant with Hagar, God commanded her to return and submit to her oppressors. The call to resubmit is a call to reconnect with others, reminding us that engaging with people and communities is risky and dangerous. We are submitting ourselves to more disagreements and headaches. But Hagar’s story reminded us that being courageous does not mean walking alone but rather walking with God. Whenever we walk faithfully with God, God will always help us go through any problems we face in life, no matter how difficult it is. When God allows us to go through a storm in life, it is not to destroy us but to show us who God is on another level and dimension that we have never seen God move before.

prayer

Lord, we thank you for your presence and grace. We thank you for those who have encouraged us on our journey of faith. Give us strength to find the power of God in our state of vulnerability, weakness, and suffering. May we live together in spiritual unity and harmony. Help us to value the needs and concerns of another and reflect your grace in our lives. Amen!

for further thought

What can we learn from Hagar’s story in finding hope and courage in our vulnerabilities?

Geraldine Varea

Pacific Theological College