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5 Reasons to Tell Your Story

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Five Reasons to Tell Your Story IMG_3590cardo

**Loving all Kris shared yesterday and echoing her thoughts even more today, as I already had this post in store for you without even knowing of hers. With a synchrony of hearts we share a united message … and I’m just loving how God does that!
 

Our stories hold power. Where we’ve been. What we’ve faced. How we’ve been hurt, and how we’ve failed. They all shape who we’ve become. And our stories can change the world.

I’m still amazed after sharing my story how many contact me. In the midst of a desperate place, they send an email, type a message, or give me a call. And without fail, I’m often one of the first people they choose to reach out to, because until now they’ve felt all alone.

In some God-appointed way they found me. And because I shared my story first, they feel safe to reach out to me with theirs.

Some are discontent in their marriage, feeling alone and afraid,

Some have inappropriate emotional attachments and don’t know what to do,

Some were betrayed by their spouse–full of deep hurt and overwhelmed with pain,

Some are wrestling with an affair, which is burying them with guilt and the shame,

And some have friends facing pornography addiction, ongoing infidelity, or divorce, and want to know what they can do to help.

It’s a humble privilege to walk alongside someone in the midst of crisis. They offer me chances to speak wisdom and whisper words of hope to their hearts, in the midst of very personal and sometimes dire circumstances.

When I dared to show up, bare my heart, and tell my story, I asked God to use it in ways only He can. And because He is faithful, He continues to bring opportunities to me–amazing and humbling divine appointments. And in His lovingkindness, He has used even me, to help others in the midst of their mess.

Your mess can become your ministry.

No matter what you’ve been through in your life, we need you, and we need your story.

Because there is someone out there who feels lost and alone,

Someone who feels discouraged and beyond hope,

And someone who is believing the lie that they’re the only one facing the difficulty of their situation.

As you consider the story God has woven within your life, I offer 5 reasons you should tell your story.

5 Reasons to Tell Your Story

1. Telling your story will help you heal

Sometimes our stories are too fresh and new to share. Because we are still healing. There may be unresolved issues or damaged relationships limiting the freedom of what we can divulge.

At one point this was true in my own life. And it was more than a decade before I unfolded my story publicly–more than a decade of processing, healing, and restoration in my life.

As you consider telling your story, perhaps it’s time to begin to pursue some resolution. And maybe, as healing gains momentum in your life, writing your story will be the tool God uses to complete the healing He longs to do in you.

 

2. Telling your story will help us know we’re not alone

People in crisis feel alone. I know I did. I was hurting and wounded, ashamed and afraid. I sought someone, anyone, who even hinted at being capable of understanding what I was facing. And few were available.

When you tell your story, the one of the road you’ve travelled, we will be reassured as we realize we’re not alone. Your story will shatter the secret place where we’re hiding. And it will open a door, inviting us to join you in a new room–a room of transparency, authenticity, and freedom. Our heart will be free, and your story will empower us to be brave enough to tell our story too.

 

3. Telling your story will give us hope

It still amazes me that every time I tell my story, someone tells me it gives them hope.

Hope to have more courage.

Hope to be more brave.

Hope to face the pain.

Or hope to know someone understands.

Within everyone’s story is a mirror of hope. And when we hear your story, the reflection we see will captivate us. We’ll grasp for the hope you offer in a desperate attempt to hang on. We’ll witness how you survived, how you endured, and how you were changed. And as we do, we’ll see a glimpse of light beyond our current darkness and the possibility of joy beyond our silent pain.

 

4. Telling your story will offer us insight

There were many days I had a limited stance and a warped point of view, because it’s difficult to see clearly in the midst of a mess.

Pain blinds us from truth, and suffering limits our perspective.

And that’s why we need you. Because you’ve already been where we are. You understand our struggle and relate to our crazy feelings. As you tell your story, we’ll see your mistakes and take note of your breakthroughs, and we’ll trust you because you trusted us and let us in. We have much to learn from you, and as you share your insight and wisdom, it will help with ours.

 

5. Telling your story will bring God glory

God created us to bring Him glory.

He is our Redeemer and Restorer.

A God of grace.

And a God of mercy.

And as He works in our lives we are evidence to the world of His great love.

As you tell your story, we’ll witness the way God redeemed and restored your life. How He took your pieces and made them whole. And we’ll believe He can make ours whole too.

As we hear His story in you, no matter how traumatic your tragedy or profound your failure, it will bring God glory, as you give thanks and tell of all He’s done in you. And I can’t wait to hear you share!

With love and cheers from afar,
Jacque of jacquewatkins.com

 

Have you ever dared to tell your story?

What happened when you did?

 

Tweetables:

Your story shatters the secrets I’m hiding & makes me know I’m not alone. [Tweet that]

As God works in our lives, our stories are evidence of His great love. [Tweet that]

Your story offers a mirror of hope for us to grab hold of, and hang on to today. [Tweet that]

 

Comments

  1. I love that line “Your mess can become your ministry”. Part of my mess is certainly what drove me to write a sex and relationships course. Having lived a life of failed relationships, sleeping around and affairs I knew that Christian women knew they should live differently but maybe not why. it’s only now being on the other side I can see the benefits of doing it differently. Thank you for this encouragement – it makes me wonder how I can better share my story.

    • Tania, I can’t wait to see all God will do with your story. There are so many who need to hear from you! I’m praying for you as you hold your life up to Him and ask Him for the words to share. I just know He has an amazing plan!

  2. OK, you and Kris…back to back…is the Lord trying to tell me something? I read her post yesterday and didn’t comment until just now after reading this…both posts resonate with me. Creating a pounding in my heart…I am scared my friend and so grateful for you and Kris!

    • And you know what friend? It won’t be courageous or brave unless you are scared…but you know what else? There’s no need to cave to that fear. It’s only a tool for you to lean into Him as He leads, because as you consider telling your story and what it will be, His strength will hold you because He’s ahead. He knows. He’s already there! xoxo

  3. Amen, sister. Love this – and after sharing my story on Tuesday, it has been incredible to watch God at work. To see how His hand was in my life long before this even happened. To know that I now can offer hope to someone else, even as I walk through the middle of it all. I think that’s the thing that I’ve been most hit with (and will likely write a post about!) – the importance of telling the hard story when it happens, not just waiting until it’s all been worked out and has a pretty bow wrapped around it.

    • Yes. To offer hope, even as you’re in the middle of it all. And you’re right, sometimes if we wait too long, the ruggedness of our journey isn’t conveyed and that pretty bow wrapped around a struggling story may never come. Our brokenness and the mending process, complete with the cracks with the light shining through, is the most beautiful of all. Because He shines through!

      • Crystal & Jacque, boy did I need to read this post & your comment today. God has been nudging me lately to share a difficult journey I have been in over the last couple of years. I have pushed it aside because there are other people involved. But, maybe now is the time to write about it while I am in the middle of it all so that the true pain is expressed. Thank you both for your words!

    • Oh Katie! I love that you’re telling your story…brokenness and all. May God bless you as you share and may many hearts read your words and be touched by your transparency!

  5. Jacque, thank you for being brave and heeding God’s prompting to use your mess for a message of His grace and mercy. And for encouraging us to to do the same!

  6. When it hurts, when it’s hard, when I’m criticized for being so open (or told I just need to “let it go,” like that’s not what I’m doing by telling my story), these are the reasons in my heart that I press onward. To heal, to help others heal, and to share how much God has gotten me through and how He’s changed me and is continuing to change me. To give God all the glory. That’s what my blog is about. 🙂

    • Keep pressing on my friend! Often it is possible our stories resonate in the deepest parts of hearts, places some are not ready to open and deal with. As you seek God’s wisdom and guidance, He’ll continue to show you what to share. And I can’t think of any better reason to blog than to bear witness of all God’s done in your life, that He may be glorified in you!

  7. Jacque, How neat that you and Kris wrote about the same thing. That must mean that we need to hear it! I’m praying that we learn to be authentic with our stories and let our testimonies allow us to overcome. Blessings, Kristin

  9. Thank you, Jaque for your obedience to write this word. Just shaking my head at how God works–amazing. Praying for all who read to be strengthened to share their stories, for His glory.

  11. You create a beautiful image here, Jacque. Such rich encouragement to turn our guilt, shame and sorrow into something positive and glorifying. Giving hope and knowing we are not alone are probably my favorite points. I know I have been helped by hearing the stories of countless women who have stepped, albeit fearfully, onto a new path, and have found their way to greater joy through doing so.

  12. Jacque, your story has always resounded with me. As someone who allowed a poor choice to lead to another and another, until finally coming to the end of myself a few years ago, I’m touched by your message. He has and is making such beauty out of my mess, but still at times, if I’m being really honest, the temptation is to sit and say, “It’s being used for good, but God, why? You are Sovereign after all…wasn’t there a different way?” I bring the grace He poured out on me – as well as the questions I still have, and together that’s my story – my offering.

    Thank you for the encouragement to keep going. To keep speaking. I have long thought there is a strange sisterhood among those who have “been there”, through the flames and lived to see His glory on the other side.

    • Christine, what a gift your sweet words are to me. And as healing progresses, questions sometimes abound, but the way He redeems it as we pour ourselves out to Him amazes me. And the sisterhood you speak of is a special one indeed…through flames into glory all because of His love! Blessings to you!

  13. This post – much like Kris’ undid me today – I firmly believe that God has used both of you this week to begin to soften some of the edges of my painful stories – the ones that I haven’t yet shared. Your beautiful words and honesty have words colliding in me that will help with my healing as I move through the next few months. I begged them from Kris yesterday and begging them from you here – prayers please.

    • Oh to be used by Him is my deepest prayer. Thank you for stopping to share your heart here…how He is using even me. So humbling. And I am earnestly praying for you as the words explode on the page and your healing moves forward in the time ahead. I just can’t wait to see what God has in store!

    • Aprille, that’s wonderful. And I will pray as you face the fear and jump anyway, that God would not only bless you as you write but meet those who read your story in amazing ways…ways that could only be accomplished with Him working through you. xo

  15. Jacque, I told Kris and I will tell you too–your words are beautiful confirmation from the Spirit of what I’m doing this very week. Amen to everything you’ve said here. Thank you!

    • Oh Mandy I’m so thankful how God works like He does. He really does care about every little detail. Yay for all you are doing, even this very week!

  16. Precious one,
    I am so thrilled for the opportunities the Lord is opening up for you! Your words ooze humble grace and has soothed my soul. You recently heard my story which I openly shared for the first time. Today, I sooooo needed this post as the enemy has planted seeds of shame and condemnation in my heart through comments judging and disqualifying me from ministry.
    Today you have brought me back to His call and out of the fear of man. Thank you dear one! You are touching hearts for His glory and it is a masterpiece to behold.
    Kathryn

    • Oh sweet mentor and friend, thank you from the bottom of my heart! May we never ever forget: “Therefore, there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life has set you FREE from the law of sin and death!! (Romans 1:1-2)” I was SO proud to hear your story, how you shined His light and offered His hope for so many. Because they see how God has done it for you they can believe God can do it for them too. And that is why we risk ourselves…to make Him known. Be encouraged…He has called you and your life is an offering to Him and His glory…press on! I am cheering SO loudly for you and all God’s going to do 🙂 With so much love for you Kathryn! xoxo

  17. “Your mess can become your ministry.” – I love this!

    It’s amazing how, while I’m in the process of preparing to share pieces of my story, God leads people like yourself to share such inspiring words. Thank you for the encouragement to keep at it and to follow through with the story that The Lord has ordained for me to share. So timely.

  19. This post really resonated with me. Just a few months ago I published my first book about a pregnancy condition I had that almost took my life and my baby’s life (Hyperemesis Gravidarum ). It was a traumatic event that took almost 7 years before I healed enough to write about it. It was amazingly healing to write it and now it’s raising awareness for an illness that many have never heard of. Abortion rates are high with HG women, and I desperately want to offer hope and healing through my story! Still locked in my heart are many other stories of childhood suffering and legalism. But laced through it all is the amazing thread of grace!! Maybe someday even those stories will make it to paper. 🙂 I appreciate your words! I’m a pastor’s wife who writes to encourage women and it’s refreshing to read others inspiration as well so I can keep my own ‘tank’ full. 🙂 Blessings to you!

    • Leah, thank you for your sweet words and your heart to also write to encourage others…may you keep writing and ministering to hearts as God leads. Thank you for blessing me with your words! xo

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