Everyone has a story. And no two stories are the same. One thing I’ve learned these past eight months is that I’m not the only one with a story. Just because I’m on the world race, doesn’t mean that people back home don’t have stories either. I just happen to have a platform this year to share those stories through my blog. But that doesn’t really matter in the end.
I was reading Acts 4 yesterday morning, and I realized the significance and power of a story. In Acts 3, Peter and John are going into the temple when they see a man who can’t walk and is begging and asking for help. Peter stops and see him. He doesn’t have any money, but what he does have is Jesus. And in the name of Jesus, he commands him to get up and walk. Immediately, the man jumps up and starts walking, jumping around, and praising the Lord.
Which is just crazy! People were amazed and couldn’t believe their eyes. But they knew it was true. Because they saw it with their own eyes.
How many times do we see God at work with our own eyes? In our own lives? In the lives of those around us? Do we get that excited? Does it seem a little crazy at times?
The story continues in chapter 4. Peter and John continue to share what had happened to that man. And officials didn’t like that. So they came up with a plan and arrested them. Meanwhile, many who heard the story of the man being healed came to believe in the Lord. Talk about an unstoppable God and His power in that story!
So the officials question Peter & John, asking them what power do they have to have been able to heal this man. They answer “In the name of Jesus….by Him this man is standing here before you healthy.”
And the officials were speechless because they saw the boldness of Peter and John. And they could see that it was nothing of themselves since they were uneducated and common men. But it was the power of the Lord. The boldness from the Spirit. And their boldness to share the power in a story that was personal to them.
The officials couldn’t deny the power that healed the man since they could see him walking around. They didn’t like the story spreading so they ordered Peter & John to stop preaching or teaching in the name of Jesus.
This was Peter & John’s response:
“Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
And the officials “found no way to punish them, because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.”
Now there’s the power of a story.
And whether you see yourself as a bold person or not, we all possess that same boldness. It was the Holy Spirit who filled Peter & John with boldness. And as believers, we possess that same Holy Spirit who is going to give us that same boldness.
“Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness.” [2 Corinthians 3:12-18]
Do you use that boldness? Because it’s there in every moment to use.
So back to the power in a story part. One of the verses that was a pivotal verse for me as I began this journey and got ready to go on the race was Habakuk 1:5, which says,
“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”
I wanted to see for myself what the Lord was doing among the nations. And over the course of the past 8 months, I have seen incredible things that the Lord is doing in the nations. And I’ve shared that with you guys. Because so many of you have told me that you are experiencing this adventure through me. You can’t see all the things or smell the smells or see the faces that I get to encounter. But you believe the stories. Because I have the Spirit inside of me that gives me this boldness to share these stories with you. And they have power. Power of the Lord being at work.
1 John 1:3 & 4 says, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
We share our stories to have fellowship. To share in the goodness of the Lord. We share experiences of the Lord so others can get a taste of the Lord in that same way too.
Every person has a different and unique story. Even if two people experience the same thing, they have different perspectives. And they are going to retell the story in different ways.
Here’s where the power lies in your story. No one can argue with your story. Because no one else knows your thoughts, your emotions, your past experiences that shape your current situations, or have your set of eyes which you see with.
That’s where the power is. No one can tell the story in the same manner that you can. So share your story with boldness.
Just like with Peter & John, the officials couldn’t argue with the story. Because they too had seen the results from the power of the Lord. And the Holy Spirit had given Peter & John the boldness to continue sharing it.
Because of their boldness, many came to believe in the Lord. And they continued to give glory to God because of what had happened.
When was the last time you shared a story that gave God all the glory? When did you share in giving God the glory for someone else’s story?
I think of my friend from my childhood that has recently started the journey of being a foster care parent. And she has been sharing her family’s story in this journey. Sure it hasn’t been easy, but she shares what the Lord is doing in it. And the power of His work in her life. And it’s beautiful. As I was reading her story, I couldn’t help but give God the glory for His work in her life and her family.
Why aren’t more stories shared like that?
You may be thinking, “sure it’s easy for you to say that because you’re traveling around the world and there’s nothing exciting happening in my life” Stop. The same God that is at work in my life this year is the same exact God that is at work in your life. His power is just as mighty in your life as it is in my life. It may take looking a little harder, but I promise you He’s at work in your life.
There’s some stories I haven’t shared this year. But I should. Like the fact that my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer this May and God healed her. And she doesn’t have to have another checkup until next February. PRAISE GOD for His power in healing her. That should have been a story I shared right away. But I didn’t. Because I didn’t have the boldness to share.
I’m learning too. Right along with you guys.
I just think if we started to share with boldness the stories of the power in the name of Jesus, many people would come to believe in the name of Jesus. Unbelievers can’t argue with our stories and our experiences. But it does show the truth of who God is. And His goodness. And why we trust Him. And why we love Him. And they can’t argue with that.
And maybe, just maybe, with enough stories shared, just like the early church in Acts, many who hear our stories will believe in the name of Jesus and the Church will grow because of it.
You may not realize the power in your story. But I challenge you, start sharing your stories. They have power. And people may believe in Jesus because of that. And isn’t that worth the risk of sharing with boldness?
