Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…”
I went to the grocery store and as I approached the butcher, I snagged a ticket and waited for my number to be called. I was number 94 and the red number on the wall read 56. I stood patiently waiting, making small talk with other shoppers. When the number reached 90 this seemingly sweet older lady walked up next to me and stood there waiting. I assumed she already pulled a number and continued waiting knowing my number would be called soon.
The butcher called for 94 and as I walked up to the counter to place my ticket in the basket and ask for my boneless skinless chicken breasts, the same seemingly sweet older lady ran up ahead of me and shouted her order. The gentleman behind the counter saw me with my ticket in hand and look of confusion on my face. He paused and asked who has number 94. I held up my ticket and before I could mutter the words, “I do,” the lady said she was number 94. I was shocked but continued to raise my hand to show my number. The butcher saw my ticket and told the lady very politely that I indeed was number 94 and she will have to wait until her ticket was pulled. She shouted back that she was number 94 and that she doesn’t have a ticket because I stole it from her!
My jaw hit the floor. Thankfully the butcher remembered me taking a ticket and saw me standing there waiting. He told the lady she would need to pull a ticket and wait for her number to be called. She hollered some rude words and left the butcher area completely and I got my chicken and continued on with my shopping experience laughing every time I would think about what just occurred.
I came home and shared what happened with James and told him some cool life lessons I could use as an illustration for a sermon. After laughing at my story while equally shocked at the lady’s actions, James mentioned how things like this always happen to me. Wherever I go there is always a funny story or a life lesson that I could turn into a sermon since I was youth pastoring at the time, but now could totally fit anything into a blog post.
The truth is, you have experiences to share, not just me. You have funny stories, times of trials, and different seasons of life others can learn from (or laugh with) if you stepped out and shared them.
While sharing the story about my grocery shopping/ticket stealing experience is easy and for giggles, not all stories are easy to tell. Last month the women of Ebenezer Collective asked me to share the story of the death of my only sibling. That was a hard story to share. I cried while writing and had to stop numerous times before starting again. Halfway through, I put my head down on my desk and prayed. I asked God for this article to somehow find its way to a sibling who is dealing with grief and for it to bring comfort to them.
After that article was published, the outpouring of love and support blew me away. I received messages and emails from people sharing their thoughts and experiences with grief and people shared my post with siblings they know are walking the hard path of grief. One special message landed in my inbox over on Instagram, it came from a sweet reader who lost her only sibling the month prior. She found my blog and after reading she reached out sharing from her heart. She shared how the words on my site brought comfort to her and she hopes she could in return do the same for others with her story.
What story do you have that needs to be shared? What life experiences did God move in and you’re withholding from sharing it with the world around you? Everything we walk through in life can be used for good, according to scripture, so why aren’t you sharing?
I too have struggled opening up and sharing my stories. I didn’t share my story about grief for a while. I was embarrassed because I worried what others would think of me since my brother was a drug addict. Then, I allowed myself to believe the lie that no one would care and no one would be helped.
Can you relate?
Do you hold yourself back from sharing your story out of fear of it ruining your reputation?
Do you tell yourself that others don’t care about your story and it won’t help anyone, so why share it?
Will people judge you because of your story? Unfortunately, some might. But, who are you sharing your story for; the judgemental or for those who will hear your story and lean on Christ as they become encouraged?
Will there be people who hear your story and won’t care or be helped by it? Yes, but not every story is for every person. I read hundreds of stories a month and only a few sticks out because it’s speaking to who I am right now. Your story is for the person who will be able to relate and be moved by it.
According to scripture, because of the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross and our testimony of Him and His goodness in our lives, we can overcome the devil. This means our story has power. The power to shed light on Jesus, who is the author of grace, forgiveness, and healing. The only one that doesn’t want you to share your story is the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy- Satan.
What’s your story?
Do you have a story of infertility, or pain from meaningless relationships, or God’s healing of a mental/physical illness? Maybe you have a story of waiting, or lessons from poor choices you’ve made, or you’ve walked the path of our spouse being unfaithful?
Whatever it is, there is always a story. A story to show what you’ve learned or are learning. A story to encourage others with God’s faithfulness. Don’t believe the lies and allow yourself to be stopped by sharing your testimony.
What story do you have of God’s goodness that you can share with someone today? Share below so we can all praise God and be encouraged together.
I have so many, but none is better than my salvation story that I’ll share in what I think is called the third person…
Scott was raised in Massachusetts in a Congregational church until he was nine years old.
He received a Bible from his Sunday School class but his parents gave him the option to join the ski team or attend Sunday School.
Scott turned out to be a great ski racer as the captain and champion of his ski teams through high school and college.
Growing up he was always very shy and did not have a lot of self-confidence. By high school he began using alcohol and drugs to deal with insecurities and fears.
When he got to college at U. Mass, Amherst he was out of control and didn’t even know it.
One morning he woke up hungover in the hospital after crashing his mom’s Ford Pinto into a telephone pole the night before. It was then an awareness of God began to grow.
He began reading that Bible for the first time… searching for meaning and purpose in his life. It had rested in the bookcase for ten years. Scott was captivated by Jesus, but still depended on alcohol and drugs to deal with life.
Two years later while watching Rex Humbard on TV he kept hearing “God loves you and has a plan for your life.” The testimonies he heard got to his heart and Scott prayed for God to forgive him and believed in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.
He met Christ and got born again in the spring of 1979.
His life now has meaning and purpose. Over time he was able to overcome his addictions as a new confidence grew within. Scott is able to think less of himself and more of others.
Scott is not near as shy as he used to be and can even talk in front of groups of people! Scott is forever grateful to God for his new life in Christ.
He is an ordained evangelist with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.
What a great testimony! I love hearing salvation stories- thank you for sharing!
I believe everything you say here is so important. Someone always needs to hear what you have to say., and God needs you to say it. Love this
Thank you =)
Oh, what timing you have! I have been rejoicing, and telling people in person, about how last month I was on pilgrimage in the Holy Land, and one of the things I put a prayer into the Wailing Wall about was for some answers to all these “rare” conditions and related health problems I’ve been experiencing my whole life (too many to be just coincidence, though on the surface there’s no easily identifiable connection to them) – praying for answers is something I’ve been doing for literally DECADES, mind you! – and barely 2 days later, I finally learned the real reason all these things keep happening to me (a rare genetic mutation that is treatable)!!! Answers at last, and prayers answered indeed!
WOW!!! That is amazing!! I am sooooo happy for you! What a blessing.
How did you enjoy Israel? I studied there for a semester while in college. It was life changing!
I think we all have stories to tell if we would let God use the stories! I think they are an important testimony of faith!
Absolutely!
God moves and answers prayers in unexpected ways. I have been feeling emotionally depleted at work (I’m a mental health therapist) and I’ve been praying for comfort, strength, and rest. On Tuesday evening I realized my daughter got pinworms! (Eek!) I have taken the rest of the week off to help her and sanitize the house from top to bottom. I strongly dislike that she has been in so much pain and discomfort. But I have been able to be with her, take care of the house, and be with the rest of my family.
Thank you for your work. I’ve always enjoyed learning from your site.
Sorry to hear about your daughter. She is lucky to have a mom like you take care of her! I’m also glad to hear God used this as a time for you to rest. =)
Great encouragement!
Thanks, Leslie!
Can I just say that I’m impressed at your ability to laugh at that story of the lady?! I have to ask though…what lesson did you turn it into?
HAHA, Well, I definitely haven’t laughed everytime something like this happened. I used the story as an illustration about how people will try and take things into their own hands to get things in their own timing instead of trusting God’s timing and by doing this they make things worse for themselves. Because, had this lady took a number and waited, she would have only waited a little bit longer and got her order. Instead, she tried to go about it in her own way and waited for nothing and didn’t even order anything from the counter- she messed it all up for herself.
Hi Heather,
It was encouraging reading your blog post “You Have a Story And Why It Needs To Be Told”.
It works so well to begin a blog post with an example from daily life.
Your shopping-example reminded me of the importance of seeing the opportunities to meet people during the day when we have these small moments of waiting-time.
Sure sounds like something of a drama you experienced there with the old lady!
We all have a story to tell.
Sometimes we can get this feeling that everything is said already, but sometimes our friends and people want to hear us tell them – also when we don’t feel it’s important to speak up.
Sorry to hear about the death of your sibling.
It takes courage to share experiences like that.
I can relate to what you say in this blog post.
My add here could be that sharing can be many different things, it does not have to be with words.
Many Christians share and add value to other people’s lives without being noticed.
One element I love about visiting many Christian blogs throughout a week is all the different stories I get to read.
What I like to share with your readers today would be this:
Your profession does not count.
What people will look for is if you care about them and if you like to help them and bring them hope with your story.
The last couple of years God has led me to places, especially online, and giving me duties that I never dreamed of being responsible for.
God bless all of you!
Edna Davidsen
Thank you Edna, this was all so great to read. And you are so right, we can get the feeling that everything has been said already but people want us to tell it again. Thank you for the reminder!
This was beautiful! I’m glad you’re sharing your story. Not many people believe they have one that’s worth telling. But you’re so right – our stories have power because of Jesus!
Thank you, Emily. You are so right, not many people believe they had a story worth sharing- they couldn’t be any more wrong.
Our stories are so important because that is who we are. Our identities are wrapped up in our unique experience. And fortunately, God can redeem and make new the parts of our stories that cause pain or shame.
Amen!
God gives us many situations to show His love to others. Sharing our story is one way we can show His love. Thank you for your wisdom.
Amen!
That is awesome and funny! As I read your story especially about the death of your sibling, I can’t help think of David and the Psalms and him sharing with us his feelings that help us relate to real-world situations and emotions including God’s response. Thank you for reminding us that we all have stories worth telling that can impact others.
Thanks, Terry. You are right about the parallel with David.
This is very encouraging!!
Thank you, Markie.
Heather, you’re so right! No wonder Jesus told us stories to get his points across and to teach us lessons. Our lives are full of stories. We’re a people of stories. We can relate to them. We love them. We’re storytellers.
I’m sorry for the loss of your sibling. I’m getting ready to share that part of your story with a friend of mine, who went through the same thing. Thank you for sharing your stories!
You are so right! I always say Jesus was the ultimate storyteller!
Thank you for your comment and sharing my story with your friend. I hope it blesses them.
Ha!…that is so funny.
What is it about little old ladies. They look so sweet and welcoming but under that exterior, some of them are like business tycoons, always got an angle and so convincing.
The way you have told this story is a fantastic way to promote your post. Well crafted Heather.
Thank you, Tony!