I was being hard on myself.

Why did I let other people’s tones, attitudes, and issues affect my own? Was I being overly sensitive? Was my sensitivity a bad thing? Was I letting close relationships impact me too much?

Deep breath.

Yes, sensitivity can be a fault. If I’m sensitive to the extent that I let everyone else influence, and even determine, my response, I’m not strong to stand firmly. I have a foundation issue, letting other people build, shake, and destroy, instead of trusting God to guide me in securely placing each stone, brick, board, and nail.

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great! (Matthew 7:24-27)

But I’m not leaving my sensitivity in the rubble. Just because it can be a weakness, it can also be a strength. In fact, it’s an important building block of the foundation God wants me to have. It’s part of who He is.

Without sensitivity, I cannot have compassion for others.

Without sensitivity, I cannot listen well.

Without sensitivity, I cannot authentically invest in relationships.

Without sensitivity, I cannot seek and trust God to lead my life.

Without sensitivity, I might avoid getting hurt, but what I would lose without sensitivity isn’t worth the cost. I don’t want to miss out on deeply investing in people’s lives, regardless of their messiness.

I certainly don’t want to miss out on the presence of God. God is never without sensitivity. When I willingly seek and follow Him, neither am I.