During my prayer time, God revealed something to me that blew my mind. He said, “Your story is enough.” Sounds simple, right? But the feeling that we must be doing more or giving more is not only real, it plagues us often.
When I started this blog, I thought every article had to deliver a tangible takeaway, like how to’s, or tips, or a checklist that someone could begin using immediately. I thought if I wasn’t telling someone how to do something better, that I wasn’t adding value.
By assuming that, I dismissed the idea that my story or experiences are valuable on their own. A list can help you be more efficient. But a thought that shifts how you view yourself or the world can change you forever.
A mindset shift could lead to freedom and hope; an entire new way of life. A list, however, without the mindset to support new habits, might feel impossible to maintain.
So why do we doubt the impact of our stories?
For me, the answer was rooted in insecurity. I first wondered if my experiences could be considered a story? A story has a beginning and an end, and I’m clearly still trying to find my way.
I then asked myself, ‘why would someone care about my journey, or anything I’ve learned along the way? I also wondered who would be interested in my little ol’ story? How would my story help someone else? Again, I haven’t accomplished that much.
But I was diminishing all God had done for me.
Don’t dismiss how far you’ve come
When we reduce ourselves, we diminish what God has done for us. Through those self-deprecating thoughts, I was discounting the grace, favor, love and faithfulness that God had shown me throughout the years. Someone needs those messages of hope that I was so casually dismissing.
If my story goes untold, someone is deprived of an opportunity to receive hope. An opportunity to see God in action. It’s not up to me to know who will be impacted by my story or how; my only job is to tell the story. Even if it’s still being written.
In order to still be standing here – able to tell a story – you had to overcome some things. Sharing where you’ve been and how you’ve gotten to where you are today can give hope to someone else in a similar situation. It can give hope to someone in need.
We honestly don’t know who’s listening or watching, or desperately seeking help. What you have to say could resonate with someone in a special way, that could have only come from you. Or perhaps what you have to say hits home because of how perfect the timing is… but if you stay quiet, then what?
Telling your story heals you
In addition to helping others, we find purpose and peace in telling our stories. Life throws so much at us that can have us feeling bottled up, from the losses to the wins. Why hold it all in? Of course we don’t need to tell all of our personal business, but when God downloads something in your spirit that someone else could also benefit from, why not share it?
We don’t have to run out and find random strangers to talk to (I mean you can if you’d like), but when we interact with those we’re connected to and it makes sense to share, we should.
All of our lives are oddly similar, in that we face trials that cause us to doubt ourselves and God. Over time, these doubts can turn into disappointments, hurt and resentment. With every opportunity to share your truth comes an opportunity to heal from it. Hidden wounds can fester. But light exposes wounds. What happens to a wound exposed to oxygen? Healing commences.
The more you shed light on your story, the more healing power you give yourself. Past hurts lose their power because you’re no longer bound by fear, shame or anger.
We shy away from sharing our stories because we feel like they aren’t complete, but the beauty in storytelling is that it provides healing, which is ultimately the beautiful ending you thought you didn’t have.
By boldly owning your story and allowing it to give others the permission to own theirs, you show people the true definition of a happy ending. It’s not an occurrence, but an existence. A living, breathing, free existence.
Leave a comment