Blogging was easy last month. We were working in the red light district of Thailand, befriending prostitutes over late night games of pool. It was flashy and exciting. People at home were intrigued. The story I was living seemed worth telling.
Blogging was easy in the months before that one as well. I was facing a huge struggle– to stay or to go. I was wrestling with big questions. What does the Gospel require of me? What is God’s will? Am I meant to stay? Am I allowed to go? Blogging let me share that walk with all of you. Again, the story I was living seemed worth telling.
This month has been more of a challenge to blog about. Don’t get me wrong; I am loving this month! We are teaching and tutoring in a primary school for impoverished (and many HIV-positive) students during the week and living life with a local church on the weekends, joining cell groups, ministering to the youth, and attending services.
I’ve loved our ministry. I’ve enjoyed our community. I’ve met some wonderful people. I’ve been learning a lot about pressing into the Lord, depending on Him, and praying continually.
But when I looked at my schedule, it didn’t seem especially glamorous– go to work, teach, come home, go to church. It seemed so… normal. Why would anyone want to hear about that, even if it was taking place in South Africa? My story didn’t seem worth telling anymore.
As I lamented having nothing to blog about, I realized I was falling into the trap of believing my current story wasn’t special enough to be used by God to touch others. It’s a trap I know far too many Christians find themselves in.
Do you want to live a great story, a story worth telling? It doesn’t require working in the red light district of Thailand or having your heart broken in a Cambodian orphanage.
In fact, I believe that living a great story is as simple as following three key principles:
1. Let God write your story. Always say “yes” to Him, no matter what He asks.
2. Only seek direction for the next chapter. Even if the story is a grand one, it cannot help but be safe and comfortable if you know the whole book before you start.
3. Share your story. Invite others in to live alongside you. Let the world see the story God writes when a character always says “yes” to Him.
God doesn’t write boring stories. And He doesn’t create characters without a purpose. If you are following the Lord’s direction and saying “yes” to where He has called you to be in this season, then you are living a unique story written by the greatest Author of all time. You have a story worth telling.
SO TELL IT!
Invite people in to walk beside you through the ups and downs of the beautiful, wild, and crazy story God is writing through you. Let others see your struggles and victories– in marriage, in parenting, in honoring God as a student, in loving well in the workplace.
Start a blog. Join a small group. Invite someone to lunch. Have a conversation that goes beyond “Hey, how are you?” Ask thoughtful questions. Listen to the answers.
Let people be touched by all the ways, big and small, God is working in your life. And be touched in return by the ways He is working in theirs.
Let’s stop hiding behind Facebook profiles where we control which pictures are on our timeline, which thoughts are broadcast as statuses, and which parts of our life are put on display.
Let’s invite real people into our real stories and share who we really are.
Stop believing the lie that your story isn’t worth telling. God is writing a story through your life that has never been written before and will never be written again. Don’t let it go unheard.
Here is my challenge to you: Each time I post a blog sharing a bit of my story, pay it forward by sharing a bit of your story with someone else. Let’s see what happens when we choose vulnerability and risk and trust in relationships. Let’s see what happens when others hear the stories God is writing in us. Let’s see how our hearts expand and our relationships deepen when we drop the mask and finally believe our life is a story worth sharing.
Get up. Go. Live your life. Tell the story.
