God Is Writing Your Story: You Need to Tell It
I love a good story. I can get lost in the pages of a book as the characters try to escape Nazi Germany, solve a whodunit on the rugged landscape of western Wyoming, or navigate the ups and downs of moving from the big city to a tight-knit small town. Yet as much as I love good fiction, I’m drawn even more to the stories of real-life people who have overcome incredible odds, who have gone through immense suffering and chosen to follow Christ, and who are ordinary people who did extraordinary things for the Lord. People like Corrie ten Boom, Darlene Diebler Rose, Louis Zamperini, or close friends who are famous only to me.
But what if Corrie ten Boom had never written about her experiences during World War II? What if Louis Zamperini had said, “No thanks,” when asked to share his story? What if my college friend hadn’t taken the time to tell me what it meant to have a quiet time? How many people, including me, might have missed out from hearing the life-changing message of the gospel?
Don’t Keep It to Yourself
God has given each one of us a story. It may not be as dramatic as Corrie ten Boom’s or as screen-worthy as Louis Zamperini’s, but each and every one can be used by God to connect with someone and to ultimately point them to Jesus. And we’re not supposed to keep these stories to ourselves.
There have been plenty of times over the years where I’ve been quiet about my story. Sometimes I’ve questioned whether how I came to know Christ was as powerful as the testimony of someone else, so I let them talk instead of me. Other times I’ve thought no one else could understand or I’ve felt ashamed over past sinful choices or that my struggle was something a true follower of Christ shouldn’t be experiencing.
But none of those reasons are true. God has included specific plotlines throughout my life to show me my need for Him and to conform me to the image of His Son. I don’t know how He will use those stories, but I don’t need to know. My responsibility is to tell them to others.
Examples in Scripture
Throughout His Word, God has given us a precedent for telling our stories. In the Old Testament, God instructed the Israelites to “tell” their children about His commandments (Deut. 6:6–8; 11:18–21) and about all He had done for Israel (Joel 1:3). Later, Joshua directed one man from each tribe to put up a memorial of stones from the Jordan River so they could point to the monument and share with their children all the Lord had done there.
The book of Psalms invites us to share our stories: “Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me” (Psalm 66:16). And just a few chapters later, the psalmist says he can’t keep quiet about what the Lord has done:
My mouth will tell about your righteousness
and your salvation all day long . . .
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. (Psalm 71:15–16)
In the New Testament, we find multiple examples of those who shared their stories. The woman at the well (John 4:1–42). The man with legions of demons driven out of him (Mark 5:1–20). The man who was born blind who could see (John 9:1–25). The woman who had bled for twelve years and was healed immediately upon touching Jesus’ cloak (Luke 8:43–48). Each one of these people had their lives changed dramatically because of Jesus. And each one of them told other people what He had done.
And who could forget the apostle Paul? In fact, we get to see multiple instances of Paul telling his story. In Acts 9, the apostles are afraid of Paul, but he had told Barnabas what happened on the road to Damascus, who in turn shared with the others (v. 27). In Acts 22, Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and asked for the opportunity to speak with the people. He stood on the steps of the temple and told (in detail) who he had been, how he met Jesus, and what God had called him to do. Then in Acts 26, Paul was brought before King Agrippa and proclaimed (again in detail) his conversion story.
We don’t know how God used Paul’s story in the lives of every person who heard, but we do know it had a significant impact on those in the early church. His story continues to have a powerful impact today. I, for one, am glad he chose to tell it.
Five Reasons Why We Need to Tell Our Stories
Sure, you recognize the power of Paul’s story. But chances are, you haven’t persecuted Christians or met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Why is it important for you to tell your story? I can think of at least five reasons why.
1. We tell our stories because God tells us to.
If this were the only reason to tell our stories, then it would be enough. For so many areas of life, we search to find God’s specific will for us. However, for this one, we don’t have to search at all. Jesus commanded His disciples to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). And Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so” (ESV). We share our stories because He said so.
2. We tell our stories for God’s glory.
As Christians, everything we do is supposed to be for His glory, including the words that come out of our mouths (1 Cor. 10:31). What better way to bring Him glory than sharing how He has helped us through difficult times, how He met our needs when we couldn’t see any other way, how He took our broken pieces and made something beautiful! When we do, we are letting “[our] light shine before others, so that they may see [our] good works and give glory to [our] Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
3. We tell our stories to share the gospel.
When I think of the stories that have impacted my life the most (both famous and not-so-famous), they all include notes of the gospel. They’ve reminded me of God’s everlasting love and how He made a way for us to be forgiven and have a relationship with Him. They told of Jesus’ amazing grace, forgiveness, and that He has the power to change lives. When someone has personally shared their story with me, they usually haven’t taken me through a formal gospel presentation but instead they’ve recounted how Jesus has worked and continues to work in their lives. They were “ready . . . to give a defense to anyone who asks . . . for a reason for the hope that is in [them]” (1 Pet. 3:15), just as we all should be.
4. We tell our stories to encourage others.
In those places of life where I’ve felt the most discouraged and alone, the stories of other people who have walked a similar path and found help and hope in Jesus have enabled me to take my eyes off my own circumstances and put them on Him instead. Sometimes their stories had a happy ending; sometimes they did not. Sometimes they were still in the thick of things. But what mattered most was to know that I was not the only one. By sharing our stories, we’re able to build each other up (1 Thess. 5:11) and to encourage one another until that day Jesus comes back and makes all the wrong things right (Heb. 10:25).
5. We tell our stories to remind ourselves of God’s goodness.
Have you ever started to tell part of your story and realized, Wow, I had forgotten how amazing it was that God did that! As we travel farther away from the moment where God first worked, it can be easy to let the details of all He has done fade away from our memories. When we share our stories with others, it’s as if we’re looking at a memorial stone that reminds us of God’s power (1 Sam. 7:12). And in the telling, we praise God for His goodness once more.
Be Ready to Share
A few months ago, a friend asked if I would be willing to talk with an acquaintance of hers. My friend had discovered that this woman had a child with similar struggles as my son and was embarking on a path my family had also chosen. Because my friend knew my story, she thought I could be of some help and encouragement to this woman.
So, one evening I stood in a coffee shop searching for a woman in a blue coat. When I found her, we sat down and tentatively started to talk. As I shared details about my son, our family’s journey, and how the Lord has guided and helped us, the conversation became more animated. For almost three hours, she and I swapped stories, sharing our struggles, sorrows, and successes. When we finally decided it was time to go, she leaned across the table and asked, “Are there more of us?”
What I heard in her voice was the longing of someone who had felt alone and yearned for someone else to understand. She had found it—and she wanted more. Through my willingness to be open, God used my story to encourage her in her struggles. Just as He used her story to encourage me.
So, what’s the story that God has written in your life? What is He writing right now? And who might He be calling you to share it with today?
If this blog post from Mindy was helpful to you, we’d love to send you a copy of You Can Trust God To Write Your Story: Embracing the Mysteries of Providence by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Robert Wolgemuth as our thanks for your donation of any amount to help women thrive in Christ.
