I was at a training earlier and the mission was to get people ready to share their testimonies. One huge thing I often challenge people with is how crucial their stories are. People will listen to what you have to say sometimes, but they will feel connected and invested when you tell your personal stories. Aside from the gospel, your personal testimony is one of the most critical communication tools you have. Why are you different? What has changed? People like to know these things.
One of my big frustrations with coaching people through sharing their testimony is the need to have the big “shock and awe” testimony. People will begin to blow up some random mistake they made in middle school in hopes of showing how much of a “bad kid” they were. It’s almost like the drugs, sex, and alcohol testimony is the concept that’s being glorified. I guarantee you that the people that actually have those testimonies would trade places in a heartbeat with the people that are making them up. The masses may be moved by “shock and awe”, but God longs for honesty and obedience. Neither testimony is better as long as God gets the credit for the transformation.
Lauren volunteered to be the guinea pig for the night and share her testimony. As she shared her story about growing up in a Christian home and knowing God at an early age, I was moved by it. She never touched drugs or got anywhere near sex and never drank before turning 21. She was a Christian in middle school, high school, college, and now as a young adult. You may say she hasn’t known anything else and it seems like she’s more than content to stay there.
Her story was not about her sins or screw ups. Lauren’s story was about God meeting her at an early age and continually pursuing her as she grew up. Surely she’s had her hang-ups or things she hoped no one would ever find out about, but she’s stood her ground with her convictions. Why does no one want to tell that testimony? Why do people want the crazy stories? In the end, isn’t it about Jesus and what he did for us as he lived out the Gospel?
Your testimony is first and foremost yours. God gives us all the gospel to tell, but as if that wasn’t enough, He gave us a personal encounter to go with it. Our testimonies aren’t the same. Our struggles and insecurities aren’t always the same. But we’ve overcome them through Christ and it’s critical that we tell the world about it. Know the gospel and know your story. Because the opportunity comes daily for you to tell both of them…
