Session 5
Your story is a blessing
From Reasons For Your Hope: A 5-Day Study to Discover the Power of Your Story
Paul’s God-confidence is everywhere in the New Testament. His faith in God has been lived in public from beginning to end, and he is fearless about sharing what has happened to him (Acts 28:30).
Paul is surrendered to God’s purpose. His spiritual power comes from counting everything else as a loss for the sake of telling people about Jesus (Philippians 3:8).
Paul is a man who knows God is at work in him — through the good and the bad. (Philippians 2:11-13 and 1 Corinthians 15:10). He knows every detail of his life is part of God’s wonderful plan to glorify Himself. (Romans 8:28).
What sometimes escapes our notice is that immediately after his conversion, even the Apostle Paul had to learn to trust God with his story. Directly after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul seems to be confused by Jesus command to “make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly” (Acts 22:17).
Paul’s response reads as if he thinks Jesus has made some sort of mistake. He tells Jesus about his background as a Pharisee, his experiences, and his community in Jerusalem have positioned him to preach to the Jews in Israel.
Paul had his own assumptions about how he would be able to give glory to Jesus through his testimony. But Jesus gently, lovingly corrects him: “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles” (Acts 22:21).
It may be hard to believe, but as smart and as capable as he was, Paul felt way outside his comfort zone with Jesus’ calling on his life.
The question is not whether you have been called to share your story. It’s really about asking God when? And how?
Venturing beyond the familiar, the expected or the controllable is the definition of a good story, and ultimately, sharing your story is part of the journey you take with God.
You cannot know what’s ahead or how you will respond at any given moment. You can trust that God will be with you at all times to lead you through (Matthew 28:20).
You will never predict or precisely know the impact of testifying. Embracing your story takes faith to believe that God planned and designed your life to tell a unique, meaningful story that will overflow in blessing to Him and others (Ephesians 2:10).
In-person ministry opportunities are certain to come when sharing your story. In fact, if you take that next step, you are believing that God has appointed specific people to come into contact with your story, and with you (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). That’s why it’s helpful to have a clear understanding, firmly grounded in Scripture, of how Jesus worked in you, so you can make the most of the opportunities that come (1 Peter 3:15).
Your belief creates faith.
Your boldness makes others bold.
Your example of freedom sets others free.
This impact isn’t limited to particular types of testimonies that involve life-controlling struggles.
Your foremost ministry is to persuade others to be reconciled to God.
Every type of testimony has the power to encourage others to believe and trust in the promises of God (Isaiah 55:10). Indeed, it is not unusual for the concrete details you think are small or unimportant to be the ones the Holy Spirit uses to set hooks inside people’s hearts.
Ultimately, however, your testimony is your life — not just your words. (2 Corinthians 3:3-4). You have become, in Paul’s words, an “ambassador” for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Once in Christ, your job is to speak and to act in accordance with God’s will. Your whole life is meant to be lived not for yourself, but for God as an act of worship. (Romans 12:1-2). And your foremost ministry is to persuade others to be reconciled to God.
As Paul’s example shows, your story fully equips you to do so — as though “God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). In truth, the question is not whether you have been called to share your story. It’s really about asking God when? And how?
When you share, you can rest knowing you have already been counted worthy of the privilege — because of the worthiness of Christ! With that privilege comes the grace you need to follow Jesus with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength in front of people.
We, like Paul, do not have to fear that responsibility, but we do have to feel it and walk worthily of it (Colossians 1:10-12). The awesome truth is that your faith, today, depended on Paul, the Samaritan woman, the demoniac, the man born blind, and countless other witnesses — featured in Scripture or forgotten to history — who were part of telling the story of God from generation to generation (Psalm 145:4).
Is telling your story publicly your next step of worship?
Reflect:
Are you walking with God closely enough for Him to lead you through this journey?
Action Step:
Are you ready to share your story publicly? You can use our step-by-step guide to help you write it out. Pray to God for the courage to take a next step. Send us your story, and we’ll celebrate with you!