What’s Your Story?

For a while, I didn’t think I had much of a ‘story’ to tell. My life as a child was blessed, uneventful except for a beloved cat that died. I came to accept Christ as my savior at 11 years old. Back then, 11 years was still an age of innocence. I was fortunate that nothing catastrophic had happened. And even through my early years and early adult-hood there weren’t any earth-shaking things that I would have said “God helped me through.”

Then, somewhere in the early years of marriage, I realized something. God’s blessings, guidance, and keeping me from harm were a story. A story of hope for others. A story that if you follow His ways, trust Him for guidance and lean on him for strength, that He does sustain you. And even when situations arose, there were so much faith in His strong arms that I didn’t even really think of myself as distraught.

Of course, time has marched on. There’s been tons of great times. There’s been a few trials and some trails of tears. But, I’ve never lost my Faith in God that He’s there with me in the good and the bad. He helps me through. I am so thankful to Him. And, that is my story in a nutshell.

One powerful way to give thanks to God is to tell others about the wonderful things He’s done for you. You may be tempted to think you don’t have a story to tell. Is it because yours isn’t about being dramatically cured of a rare illness or surviving a horrible disaster?

That’s okay. Your story may be an ordinary event. Perhaps you went through a difficult divorce and God gave you the strength to keep going. Maybe you were dealing with a co-worker that was hostile toward you and God helped you through it. Maybe you needed guidance about a life decision and God sent the right person along to help you.

If you’re not sure what your story is, make a list of hard moments in your life. Then ask yourself what God did. He may have changed your circumstances an transferred your hostile co-worker to another division. Or God may have changed you by using a tough condition to make you more patient and understanding of others.

Sometimes, you may look at a place in your life and think God’s done nothing for you. Rest assured that as a child of God, He is always working on your behalf. His response to your case may not be clear at this moment but know that He is working all your circumstances for His glory and your good.

Whether your story is ‘finished’ or unfolding, you can use the experience as a way to praise Him. Let the surrounding people know how God has worked or is working on your behalf.

My prayer for you…