Who Needs Your Story?
“In life, we all hurt, and experience pain. It’s what you choose to do with your pain, that will determine the person you will become. Don’t waste your pain. Use it to help others. You never know whose going through the same thing you just came out of. ”
When this memory popped up on Facebook the other day, it really triggered something for me. It’s crazy that the 2010 me, never would’ve imagined that she would be quoted by the 2019 me. (especially not on my own website.)
When I posted that status on Facebook nine years ago, I had no thoughts whatsoever of having a blog. I don’t recall exactly what was happening in my life around that time, but let me try, and paint the picture the best I can.
In November 2010, I was living in South Carolina. At the time, I was in the Air Force, and I had just got stationed there in June of that same year. So, I had been there for roughly five months.
I was a single parent at the time (my daughter was 3), and I remember feeling all alone. Most times, I was bored out of mind. I felt like I had no life, and my friends, and family seemed so far away.
What really sticks out to me though as I write this, was that this was around the time that I really got serious about my walk with God. I mentioned this some months ago in Beauty of Isolation, but this was the start of my isolation. This timeframe of my life, was really the start of me developing my relationship with God.
Fast forward nine years, a husband, two sons and a blog later, I can see that everything that I was going through at that time, was preparing me for where I am now.
Last week, in Desperate Faith, I shared my current struggles with my own faith. I had more people reach out to me last week, than any of my previous posts. There were more people that related to struggling in their faith, than I expected. The crazy thing is, I was hesitant about even sharing how I felt. I kept thinking, maybe this is a little too honest, but I’m so glad that I shared.
One of my best friends always says this…
“My story is not my own.”
What you’re going through right now, may seem like the worst experience of your life. It’s painful, and sometimes you can’t see how you’re going to make it through, but let me tell you this, YOU WILL MAKE IT!
See, your story isn’t even about you. It’s about the many people that you’re called to help. You may not share your experiences on a blog, but there are countless other ways that God is going to use your story for His glory.
There is another single parent out there, who needs to hear your story. There is someone out there who desires to be a business owner, and your story of how you overcame the obstacles, and started your business, will help them to start theirs. There is someone out there whose sick, and your testimony of how God healed you’re body, will increase their faith to believe for their own healing.
Imagine you’re in a race, and you can see the finish line. At the finish line, there are hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people waiting for you to get there.
What if, by finishing this race, you had the power to help change their lives? What if your testimony, your perspective, your outlook, your struggles, YOUR STORY, had the power to change their whole situation?!
Now, imagine stopping short of the finish line, turning around, and walking away. (I’ll leave the outcome of that up to your imagination.)
In the beginning, I said “you never know whose going through the same thing you just came out of.” Sometimes, the freedom not only comes from what you just came out of (finishing the race), for some, just seeing the sweat, tears, and perseverance, of you running your race, is enough motivation for them to continue running there’s.
“Keep running your race! Go after EVERYTHING God has in store for you! Choose not to waste your pain. It’s all a part of your story. ”
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your hand that has been heavily upon my life. For I know that even in those times that I felt all alone, you were there. God, I don’t want my pain to go to waste. Help me to overcome the obstacles in my life, and help me to use what I’ve been through, to bring freedom to others. I thank you in advance for using my story, for your glory. In Jesus name. Amen.
Today’s Reading: Revelation 12:11; II Corinthians 1:3-4
Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
II Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
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