The Power of Your Story
Have you ever asked God the question, "Why does this have to be my story?" If so, you're in good company. Recently, I've been asking God that very same question, along with a few others like, "Why is my story so challenging?", "Why do I have to walk through this?", and "Why is this my reality right now, God?" I found myself constantly asking God these questions, along with many others, and, a few nights ago, He finally brought clarity. In the moment, I had been reflecting on every hard thing that I have had to walk through in my life. As I did, I really struggled to understand why God allowed me to face so many hard circumstances. I know that trials bring maturity and I should count it all joy, but, honestly, deep within myself, I still felt bothered that I had to walk through so many valley seasons. As I sat on my bed that night, staring up at my roof, I felt the Holy Spirit begin to speak to my heart about the power of my story, and he reminded me of something profound. He told me to think about the amount of times persons reached out to me for encouragement, help, prayer, or wisdom regarding certain situations. He told me to reflect on the times that I've been able to walk with someone through a tough season in life because I knew what it felt like to overcome it. He also challenged me to think about the times that I've been able to provide someone with strategies to defeat the enemy because I've had to learn them myself. In that moment of vulnerability with God, He reminded me that although our stories may not always look the way that we intended for them to look, the chapters that He is writing are necessary. There will be chapters that are challenging, chapters filled with delays and setbacks, chapters that we find ourselves mourning, but I've realized that these chapters are so necessary. They are necessary because we can share what we've learned with others who will face their very own tough chapters in life. Through our stories, these persons will know that they're not alone and that healing and freedom is possible. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." These verses remind us that the God we serve is a God of all comfort, and with the comfort we received from Him during those challenging chapters of our story, we will be able to comfort others. That, right there, is the power of our stories. They are powerful because others will need them. Whatever hard thing that you are currently walking through or have had to walk through is for someone else's deliverance, someone else's freedom, someone else's hope. Your story isn't just for you. It's for the people coming after you who will need it. So, I encourage you to embrace it. Embrace those chapters that may be a little bit challenging. Embrace them in confidence knowing that God is with you. Remember that your story, right now, may seem difficult, but it is powerful and necessary.
Most importantly, remember that although you may be walking through a tough chapter at the moment, better chapters are ahead.