Go Tell The Good News: The Why
The Power of Your Story: How God Transforms Our Brokenness
Have you ever considered the power of your personal story? Each of us has a unique narrative, filled with moments of joy, struggle, and transformation. While we often keep these stories to ourselves, there's incredible potential in sharing them – especially when it comes to our faith journey.
Let's start with a seemingly unrelated tale: the impact of the movie "Back to the Future" on one person's life. At first glance, this '80s sci-fi classic might not seem particularly spiritual. However, for a young boy dealing with his parents' divorce, it sparked something profound. The film offered a glimpse of hope – the tantalizing possibility of understanding the past and glimpsing the future. While time travel remains fictional, this longing for answers and hope is deeply human.
This cinematic connection serves as a bridge to a greater truth: our stories, even the seemingly mundane parts, can be powerful tools for sharing our faith. God often uses the unexpected to draw us closer to Him and to help us connect with others.
The gospel of Mark recounts a dramatic encounter between Jesus and a man possessed by demons. This man's life was one of isolation, torment, and hopelessness. He lived among the tombs, crying out day and night, a source of fear for his entire community. Yet Jesus intentionally sought him out, crossing a stormy sea to reach him.
This is the heart of the gospel – Jesus meets us in our brokenness. He doesn't wait for us to clean up our act or have everything figured out. Instead, He comes to us exactly where we are, in the midst of our struggles and pain. As 1 John 4:9-10 reminds us: "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
The demon-possessed man's encounter with Jesus was transformative. Where chains and human efforts had failed to subdue him, Jesus spoke with divine authority, casting out the legion of demons and restoring the man to his right mind. This miraculous healing serves as a powerful metaphor for how Christ works in our lives. He has the power to break the chains that bind us – whether they're addiction, fear, shame, or any other force that keeps us from living abundantly.
Consider the modern-day testimony of Stephen McWhertiger. Raised in a troubled Christian home, Stephen rejected faith entirely, spiraling into drug addiction and a life of crime. His hatred for Christianity ran deep, fueled by the hypocrisy he had witnessed. Yet God met Stephen in the most unlikely of places – a drug-filled house at 3 AM, while reading Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ." In that moment, Stephen encountered the living God, who spoke directly to his heart: "Stephen, I'm real. I'm good. And I have a purpose for your life."
Stephen's story, like the demon-possessed man in Mark's gospel, illustrates a crucial truth: only God can truly set us free. Our own efforts, willpower, and good intentions often fall short. But when we surrender to Christ, allowing Him to work in our lives, transformation becomes possible.
Here's where our stories intersect with God's greater narrative. After healing the demon-possessed man, Jesus gave him a surprising command: "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19)
This commission extends to all believers. We are called to share our stories – not as polished, perfect testimonies, but as honest accounts of God's work in our lives. Remember the man born blind whom Jesus healed? When questioned by skeptical religious leaders, he simply stated, "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25). He didn't have all the theological answers, but he had his story.
Your story is a powerful tool for sharing your faith. It doesn't need to be dramatic or filled with spectacular miracles. The small ways God has worked in your life, the gradual transformations, the moments of peace in the midst of chaos – these are all part of your unique testimony.
As you reflect on your own journey, consider:
Don't be afraid to share these stories. You never know how your experiences might resonate with someone else who is struggling or searching for hope.
Remember, the goal isn't to have all the answers or to present a perfect image. It's about authentically sharing how God has worked in your life. Your story might be the bridge that helps someone else encounter the transformative love of Christ.
We all have a story to tell. It's a story of brokenness met by grace, of chains broken by divine power, and of lives transformed by an encounter with the living God. So go, share your story. Tell of the hope you've found, the freedom you've experienced, and the love that has changed everything. Your story matters, and through it, others might just catch a glimpse of the God who is longing to meet them right where they are.
Have you ever considered the power of your personal story? Each of us has a unique narrative, filled with moments of joy, struggle, and transformation. While we often keep these stories to ourselves, there's incredible potential in sharing them – especially when it comes to our faith journey.
Let's start with a seemingly unrelated tale: the impact of the movie "Back to the Future" on one person's life. At first glance, this '80s sci-fi classic might not seem particularly spiritual. However, for a young boy dealing with his parents' divorce, it sparked something profound. The film offered a glimpse of hope – the tantalizing possibility of understanding the past and glimpsing the future. While time travel remains fictional, this longing for answers and hope is deeply human.
This cinematic connection serves as a bridge to a greater truth: our stories, even the seemingly mundane parts, can be powerful tools for sharing our faith. God often uses the unexpected to draw us closer to Him and to help us connect with others.
The gospel of Mark recounts a dramatic encounter between Jesus and a man possessed by demons. This man's life was one of isolation, torment, and hopelessness. He lived among the tombs, crying out day and night, a source of fear for his entire community. Yet Jesus intentionally sought him out, crossing a stormy sea to reach him.
This is the heart of the gospel – Jesus meets us in our brokenness. He doesn't wait for us to clean up our act or have everything figured out. Instead, He comes to us exactly where we are, in the midst of our struggles and pain. As 1 John 4:9-10 reminds us: "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
The demon-possessed man's encounter with Jesus was transformative. Where chains and human efforts had failed to subdue him, Jesus spoke with divine authority, casting out the legion of demons and restoring the man to his right mind. This miraculous healing serves as a powerful metaphor for how Christ works in our lives. He has the power to break the chains that bind us – whether they're addiction, fear, shame, or any other force that keeps us from living abundantly.
Consider the modern-day testimony of Stephen McWhertiger. Raised in a troubled Christian home, Stephen rejected faith entirely, spiraling into drug addiction and a life of crime. His hatred for Christianity ran deep, fueled by the hypocrisy he had witnessed. Yet God met Stephen in the most unlikely of places – a drug-filled house at 3 AM, while reading Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ." In that moment, Stephen encountered the living God, who spoke directly to his heart: "Stephen, I'm real. I'm good. And I have a purpose for your life."
Stephen's story, like the demon-possessed man in Mark's gospel, illustrates a crucial truth: only God can truly set us free. Our own efforts, willpower, and good intentions often fall short. But when we surrender to Christ, allowing Him to work in our lives, transformation becomes possible.
Here's where our stories intersect with God's greater narrative. After healing the demon-possessed man, Jesus gave him a surprising command: "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19)
This commission extends to all believers. We are called to share our stories – not as polished, perfect testimonies, but as honest accounts of God's work in our lives. Remember the man born blind whom Jesus healed? When questioned by skeptical religious leaders, he simply stated, "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25). He didn't have all the theological answers, but he had his story.
Your story is a powerful tool for sharing your faith. It doesn't need to be dramatic or filled with spectacular miracles. The small ways God has worked in your life, the gradual transformations, the moments of peace in the midst of chaos – these are all part of your unique testimony.
As you reflect on your own journey, consider:
- Where has God met you in your brokenness?
- How has He set you free from things that once bound you?
- What changes have you experienced since coming to faith in Jesus?
- Where have you seen God's mercy at work in your life?
Don't be afraid to share these stories. You never know how your experiences might resonate with someone else who is struggling or searching for hope.
Remember, the goal isn't to have all the answers or to present a perfect image. It's about authentically sharing how God has worked in your life. Your story might be the bridge that helps someone else encounter the transformative love of Christ.
We all have a story to tell. It's a story of brokenness met by grace, of chains broken by divine power, and of lives transformed by an encounter with the living God. So go, share your story. Tell of the hope you've found, the freedom you've experienced, and the love that has changed everything. Your story matters, and through it, others might just catch a glimpse of the God who is longing to meet them right where they are.
Recent
Archive
2025
February
April
May
June
July
August
September
November