PRACTICING VULNERABILITY

In its original Hebrew, the first part of this verse simply reads, “Blessed are those who fear.” Various Bible translations treat this phrase in different ways, but the general consensus is that if fear is to be considered a blessing, it must be fear of something that is best avoided—for example, “Blessed are those who fear to do wrong” (NLT)—or of Someone who is rightly to be feared, respected, or reverenced. Trusting in God is an act of vulnerability—or, even more, an ongoing attitude of vulnerability. It feels like we are taking a risk by trusting Someone we cannot see and perhaps only sometimes feel or encounter.

As such, trusting God requires courage and an “always” perseverance. “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”* While always requiring courage on our part, this vulnerability is not misplaced because of who God is and what we believe about Him. To be vulnerable in relation to God is to be blessed, whereas to refuse to open ourselves to His presence and leading in our lives means we are largely relying on ourselves, which will inevitably let us down and lead us into trouble.

The second part of this verse qualifies and contrasts with the fear that was encouraged. Whether Proverbs 28:14 urges us to be vulnerable in trusting God or to have a healthy fear of wrongdoing, either understanding is better than becoming hardened by our experiences of life and the further trouble a calloused heart causes.

So choose fear that is blessed today.

* Brené Brown, Rising Strong (London: Vermilion, 2015), 26.