Only You Can Tell

What story has God given you? I believe every Christian has a faith story whether or not they’ve grown up in a Christian home or had a Damascus Road experience like the Apostle Paul.

This week in San Antonio, as a part of the Roaring Lambs Testimony Workshop, Roaring Lambs Executive Director, Donna Skell, and I listened to ten different personal testimonies. Each experience was unique, but each pointed to the restoring power of Jesus Christ in a person’s life.

One sister overcame the devastating death of a child. Another brother was abandoned as an infant. Yet another had an encounter with Jesus in the midst of a gun battle. It’s stuff that movies are made of. Scenarios that God used for his glory.

You don’t have to be an expert in apologetics to share about Christ. You don’t have to know the Bible from memory. Your story is the most powerful witness you have, and no one can argue with what Christ has done for you personally.

The Apostle Paul was a pro at sharing his testimony with others. In 2 Corinthians 11:25-27, Paul talks about the hardships he’s faced: “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

But what did Paul say shortly after listing off the troubles? He said if was going to boast, he would boast about the things that show off his weakness.

When we share the most heart wrenching, difficult experiences in our lives, like Paul, we are boasting about our weaknesses. Generally, those experiences represent a point in our lives when we realized we were incapable of handling the difficulty on our own.

We needed help.

We were weak in our own power.

We cried out to Jesus to rescue us.

Why do we need to be open and vulnerable by being honest about our life experiences?

Because our stories can encourage someone going through the exact same issue.

Our testimonies can be a powerful tool to point people to God.

Our experiences can strengthen another person whose faith is waning.

But many of us are afraid to share, and eventually, the stories will die with us.

What a waste.  I believe God wants us to show and tell about our lives. In Acts 4:20, Apostles Peter and John said, “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we’ve seen and heard.”

What have you seen Jesus do in your life?

What have you heard from him?

Who have you told about it?

Someone needs to be encouraged by a story only you can tell because you lived it, and somewhere in the midst of the rubble, God found you and pulled you out of the pit. That’s worth sharing. (LBW)

If you would like to learn how to write and present your testimony, consider attending the Roaring Lambs Testimony Workshop. You can sign up on line at www.roaringlambsministries.org