The Power of a Story

I could feel the sweat on the back of my neck and my stomach starting to turn.  It had been a long time since I had done this and I was well…scared out of my mind.  They were all looking at me and waiting for me to begin.   I was waiting on those things to come out…you know those things…words?  Slowly but surely I began.  I began to share my story.

Sharing our stories can be very difficult.

There are a lot of things that can keep us from sharing our stories with others.  We’re afraid that they will judge our past or who we once were.  We’re ashamed of choices we may have made.  And sometimes, the things that have happened to us are just too hurtful we don’t want to talk about them.

[Tweet “So yeah, sharing our stories can be hard. But it can also be beautiful.”]

And it was time.  See, I lead a missions group for teen girls called Acteens on Wednesday nights at my church.  The girls in my Acteens group truly fill my heart with joy!  I spend a lot of time sharing the story of Jesus with them, but I realized one day that I had never shared my story with them and how He {Jesus} had changed me forever.

So on a chilly Friday night at our annual Acteens fall retreat {using this awesome little resource} I decided that it was time to tell them about the person who they see in church regularly.  Y’all, let me tell you, I’m comfortable around these girls.  We have shared personal moments with one another, prayed over each other, and come to really get to know each other’s hearts.

Will you share your story?

But when the time came, I was scared.  I had an inner debate with myself about whether I should pull the plug on the whole idea last minute, but I sensed God leading me to share something very specific about my story with them.

So as scary and difficult as it was to begin, I faced fear head on and shared my story.

I shared about my choices in unhealthy relationships as a teen, my battle with depression in college, and how I felt called into ministry.  We shed tears as I talked about never feeling worthy or good enough as a teen, my battle with it still as an adult, and how to be an over-comer {insert best Mandisa impression here} of the past as I press on into the future!

I felt a sense of relief after I shared my story.

I wanted them to understand that the person who leads their Bible study is a work in progress just like they are.

I have made and will continue to make mistakes in my life.  We all will.  I wanted them to see that I walk by faith, but that walk can be filled with cobblestones and forks in the road. I struggle with things just like they do, but then there’s my sweet Jesus who changes it all…for me, for them and for you, too.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs
to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone;
a new life has begun!

Sharing your story can bring up hurtful things from our past, especially as Satan loves to remind us of our failures, but God is quick to provide healing if we simply ask Him for it.   If you’re struggling with YOUR story today, be reminded of these things:

Where Satan loves to help us find shame in our past, God helps us find redemption from it.

Where Satan instills fear in us, God instills courage.

When Satan whispers “they’ll judge you,” God says “you have already been accepted by me.”

There is true power in your story!

You never know what God will do with it.  It could change a life or put you on a road to healing.  You only have to begin.

So what do you say, will you take a brave step of faith and think about sharing your story soon?

Sign up for the next M2B Mentoring Training Study!

Learn how to mentor simply and Biblically, and you’ll also find out how to share your story in a way that God always gets the glory.

 Mentoring Training especially for Moms of Tweens & Teens

 Learn more here and sign up here!

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