Why We Tell Our Story

I love hearing people’s stories.

I have never been great at small talk. I don’t know if it is arrogant or loving, but I just don’t want to waste my time. If I have the opportunity to find out more about the REAL you – the encouraging stories of victories, as well as the bits of your story that make your chin draw to your chest and stiffen your back- I want to soak it all in. I want to celebrate with you as you tell of what God has done. I want to mourn with you and pray in my mind as you fumble to describe your pain.

There is power in sharing our stories.

I know that because I see it. I see hope behind the eyes of women while I share my story at events and churches. I’ve sat in a prison gymnasium listening to women find freedom they never knew was possible because they were able to put words to the pain they’ve kept hidden behind a mask most of their lives. I’ve held the hands of teen moms, betrayed wives, drug addicts, cancer survivors, widows, the overwhelmed, the overlooked, and the just plain over it all.

Hearing people’s stories gives us a new perspective of them, a new view; possibly a view that has only been shared with their Creator. For a moment you are in a treasured space with them, a space they may not leave the doors open to often. This space has the ability to change more than your view of them; it has a great potential to leave YOU changed as well.

God intended for us to tell our stories.

“…describe what great things God has done for you.” Luke 8:39

Most of us, like the man Jesus was talking to in this verse, have A FREEDOM STORY – a story of how our great God has set them free – free from anxiety, fear, despair, addiction, sickness, insecurity, hopelessness, or even free from apathy.

Our gift of freedom was not meant to be kept private. We may be a private person in some areas of our life, but when it comes to what God has done for us, we are to SHARE. After being set free, the man in Luke 8 left his shackles and “went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” The Greek word for “proclaim” refers to someone telling their story repeatedly, to anyone who might listen.

Why does God ask us to tell our story?

People need to see evidence of God’s power to change lives and hearts.

There are dark times in every life. When we are in the middle of it, surrounded by darkness, our eyes adjust to the dark and it’s all we begin to see. When someone tells their story of rescue, redemption, or healing, it shines light into the darkness and brings a glimpse of hope when we’ve lost sight of it.

I spent many years while my husband Mike and I battled through his addiction to pornography feeling alone and terrified of what people would think if they knew. I had no idea so many other wives were dealing with these same things because no one was willing to talk about it.

I get it. It’s not easy to show our dirt. We want to keep that perfect facade because it is neat and tidy and easy and comfortable. But while it may be more comfortable, someone who needs to hear our story suffers alone. When I shared with my mom this week about a friend who had gone through a season of being angry at God (stay tuned…this will be our second podcast!!!), we were able to have a great discussion that led to her forgiving herself after many years of guilt from her own season of anger at God. My mom was set free from guilt she had carried far too long because someone was willing to share their story. We don’t need to know the details of how God will use our story to bring hope or healing, we just need to obey and share. I had no idea sharing my friend’s story would impact my mom, but what a blessing it could bring freedom!

Hearing our story may simply be encouraging, or it may be the hope that puts fuel in someone’s empty tank to keep them pushing forward. If God has done great things for you, tell it…to anyone who will listen, just like the man in Luke 8, and let God carry it to the people whose hearts are waiting.

Sharing your story is bringing people the gospel.

“People hear about the gospel from those who are living out the gospel. They are redeemed when we point them to the Redeemer. They can be saved when those of us who are saved point to the Savior.” – Laura Story, Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter and author

Our stories are not about us. If they ended with us, there would temporary victories, at best. Our stories are meant to point people to a God who is not limited by what we can or can’t do to fix our circumstances. People need to hear our story of a mighty God who has the power to bring life out of death, a God who “causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28).

You don’t need to have a special platform or a crazy story. It’s God’s story in your life. Simply hearing someone felt angry with God was able to bring my eighty-one-year-old mom freedom from years of guilt. It’s important to remember that it isn’t up to us to bring change or hope – that’s God’s job. We simply “tell of the great things He has done.” I love how Paul talks about his own inadequacy in bringing the Gospel message,

"This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities."  Ephesians 3:7-8 MSG

We ALL have a story. Those stories are not intended to bring up pain and brokenness, but to tell of what the Lord has done for us. When we cover it up, we hide Him, what He’s done in our lives – our symbol of resurrection. What if the very things we work to cover up and keep quiet are missed opportunities to draw people closer to Jesus and remind them of the hope that comes from Him? Tell God you are willing to share and ask Him for opportunities to use your story for His glory…He will handle all the details.

Exciting new news!!!

Okay, so here is the low down… Ever since the beginning of Lent, I have been taking some time to allow God to speak and guide as I reexamined what the purpose of An Abundant Life is. An Abundant Life began from God’s story in my life. I knew, even before I could see any actual evidence, that God was going to give me a front-row seat to watch His powerful hand at work in my life. I didn’t know if my marriage would be saved, but I KNEW whatever He had planned for me was good. And as I watched Him do “more than I could ever ask or imagine” in my life and marriage, I knew He would not allow me to be quiet about it. I promised Him I would use His crazy amazing work in our lives to bring Him glory for the rest of my days. But…I feel I have avoided doing that because our story is a fragile one. For a long time, I have greatly enjoyed bringing blog posts about His truths and promises, and I will continue to do that. But, He made it very clear to me from the beginning that I was to “tell of the great things He has done.”

And, as I shared before, He has always given me a heart for peoples’ stories. So beginning this Thursday, I will be launching An Abundant Life podcast, highlighting “extraordinary stories in ordinary lives.” This could not possibly come at a better time. The news is full of division – AND IT IS UGLY. I cannot imagine how Satan is rejoicing in this present darkness, but we will come together in unity. Together, we are going to hear stories of God’s victory, hope, encouragement, and freedom. Together, we will learn, rejoice, wipe away tears, give thanks, and laugh.

I have wrestled and decided it’s only fair to begin with my story. As I recently told a dear friend from college, I can stand in front of large groups of people who don’t know me to tell our story, but telling those close to you is always the hardest. So, for those of you who haven’t heard our story or who only know a part of it, tune in Thursday for what Paul Harvey would call, “the rest of the story.”

Our second podcast is already recorded, and I can promise you, my friend Megan will bless your socks off! We will listen to her tell her tell her story of what it was like after having a stroke at age 30, less than a year after her wedding day. She has been an amazing inspiration to me, and I cannot wait for you to hear her story, so join us as we learn and celebrate together!

If you would like to share YOUR story, please drop me a note! (Contact me ~here.~ ) It would fill my heart to know what God has done in your life and (if you’re willing) share it with others! Or if you are in a place where you need God to do a great work in your life, I would love to pray with and for you.

Thank you for your prayers and patience as we step out in this way. Our stories matter, and my heart desperately hopes that as we come together during this podcast, we can experience the gift of a sweet unity only God could give us as we look to Christ during this time of social distancing and division. I am confident you will be blessed and am so excited to see and hear how you are impacted as we share our stories and celebrate His victories!