In case you haven't had the chance to play this awesome time-sucking game, I'll explain it very briefly. The whole world is made of blocks. The ground, the trees, and anything you build is made of 1x1 blocks. If you want to build something, you need to gather the blocks (either by mining cobblestone, chopping trees, digging dirt, etc) and then build your object (ex: a house) one block at a time. There's more to it than that (which is why it's so addicting and great for developing creativity) but that's the big picture. There are shortcuts to getting the building supplies (you can "gliche" things) but there's no shortcuts for the actual building process. Each block has to be placed where you want it. By placing ONE BLOCK. AT. A. TIME. My son is a pro wall builder. He can get things built at a speed that makes my brain (and thumbs) hurt just watching him.
I, on the other hand, am a pro wall builder in a different way. I can erect emotional walls to protect myself from the outside world faster than any Lego Master Builder (yes, I have 4 kids...this is my world of expertise right now...Legos & Minecraft haha).
Everyone has these imaginary walls to protect us from hurts, don't we? And they take time to build; most of them don't happen overnight. They are built brick by brick, hurt by hurt. We build them up little by little and if we're not careful we let them get too tall. Then they start to hurt us because they're also holding those hurts, that pain, in and not letting it escape. Being trapped within our walls is not good; studies have shown it can even make us physically sick!
I admit it's scary thinking about these walls coming down. Without them we are exposed, vulnerable. We are REAL. It can be frightening being real with people, showing them who we are, what our burdens are, what we're afraid of. We might get hurt again. Or completely rejected. But if we're not being REAL with the people in our life, we're not really living. He has created each of us to carry out His purpose in a way no one else can.
We're holding back who we are, holding back who God made us to be.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Have you built up walls to protect yourself? Played emotional Minecraft stacking the blocks one by one until you are so protected from the outside world you're actually hurting yourself? Take one small step today to be more real with someone. Tear down just one brick. Reach out to someone for help. God will help you no matter how buried behind walls you are - He is with you there.
He is with you now. He is with you always.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
And once you've moved a few bricks and are able to see outside your walls, you will find there are people around you who care, people who love you and who will also help you. Don't be one who falls alone...
Eccelsiastes 4:9-10, 12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
What do you need to do today to tear down a brick in your emotional walls and be more REAL with those around you?
Blessings,
