Have you ever heard of a good story recently. Who doesn’t like a good story. Stories of adventure, or stories that contain good life lessons. Do you know what makes up a good story. A good hook, a problem that occurs, a solution and a conclusion. A good story also has different themes in it. Some are action-packed, others have romantic elements, or have a person overcoming adversity. Some stories contain characters that are heroic, or trouble-makers. As Christ believers, we to have a story to tell. A story that testifies what God has done in our life and how we decided to follow Him. Which is story worth sharing about.
In the world of Christianity specifically, we often share our own story of how we became a Christian, or stories of what Christ is doing in us or in others. We often use the word “testimony” when we share our story. Testimony is a term that someone uses when they tell their story. Testimony or story telling are interchanged quite a bit.
In the Bible, there are many places where we read about the testimonies of others. From the eyewitness accounts that the disciples wrote, for example, we read about all the miraculous things that Jesus did from the witnesses throughout the Gospels. To reading about how Paul’s journey as He travelled proclaiming the gospel to all he came across. To the Old Testament, we read about the Israelites escaping Pharaoh’s hands, to the story of Esther, and of Ruth and how they were both amazing women of the Bible, faithful to what God called them to do. All to which are proof that our stories have influence and can impact others.
When telling your testimony, you are essentially answering the question, “Who is God to you? and what has He done in your life?” Which could be answered in 10 words or less. All of us have a story to tell. By, telling our stories, the good, the bad, and the ugly portions of it. It shows that we are human and that we all go through situations and overcame them as well. It shows that we are not alone. We are loved and cared for by the One who made us. 1 Chronicles 16:8 “Give thanks to the Lord. Call on His name. Make him known among the nations what he has done”. Making God known through our stories helps show who God is to us.
I have always believed that the words we say have an element of power and influence on others. Words in general can build us and can tear us down. We honestly do not know who is going to be impacted either by what you say and by what you do. Our words can impact others regardless whether we see the result of it right away or not. Our words can impact someone both negativity and positivity. For myself, when I tell my story it not only brings healing, but it also reminds me how far I have come and what God has done within my life.
Psalms 22:22 “ I will praise you to all my brothers; I will stand up before the congregation and testify of the wonderful things you have done”. I remember a time when I worked at a camp as a camp counsellor, I shared my story and lived life that week with those group of girls, one of them messaged me a while ago on social media, telling me that she became a Christian and went to a youth group. Another time, I got to share my story to everyone at the campfire and later that week, I had a camper come up to me and said that it helped her realize that she was not alone in the situation she was going through at the very moment.
Lastly, know this. Whatever, you have been through, whatever you are going through right now. God is still writing your story. It is not over yet. It is just beginning. I pray that you will be able to let God use your story to help further His Kingdom.
An Unshakable Journey 