Telling My Story Series

We are in week three of our four week series on “Stories of Hope.” By now we have discussed what our universal story of hope is. We have written down some of our own stories of hope to help remind us of our personal hope that we have in Christ. We have also heard people talk about their stories of hope. Tonight we are going to discuss why it’s important to share your story of hope with others. It is one thing to know your story of hope. But it’s also very important to tell other people our stories of hope.

Rev 12:11 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;”

They, being the church, being us.

Overcame him, the enemy, the devil

By the blood of the Lamb, our universal story of hope

And by the word of their testimony, and testimony is just a big word for verbally telling and living out in our actions our stories of hope.

So that is one reason it is important to share our stories of hope.

The other reason it is so important to share our stories of hope can be found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 (CEB)

13 No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.

I have used this verse many times in my life to remind myself that God will provide a way out of every temptation. And it is a great verse to remember if you struggle with a reoccurring temptation.

However, I also think it speaks to the importance of sharing your story of hope.

No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. You have never been tempted with anything that someone else hasn’t been tempted with. You are not alone when you are tempted to gossip, when you are tempted to smoke pot, when you’re tempted to lie, when you’re tempted to look at porn, when you’re tempted to go too far.

You are NOT alone. There are other people in this world that have been and are continuously tempted with the same things.

So how are we reminded that we are not alone? By hearing other people’s testimonies.

I remember when I was younger, I was struggling with some temptations and I felt so ashamed, depressed and lonely because I thought surely I was the only person in the world that was tempted with this kind of stuff. Then one night a guy I knew from school gave his testimony and he shared how he had been tempted with the same thing I was being tempted with. WOW, what a relief! I wasn’t the only one. That in itself brought me hope.

But then he went on to share about how God had delivered him from that struggle and he didn’t fall to the temptation anymore. He testified to the fact that God had provided a way out of every temptation. So for me that was a light bulb. Not only was I not alone in my struggles, God had provided this guy with a way out and he could provide me with a way out also. And now not falling to that temptation anymore is one of my stories of hope.

But I might still be struggling with the depression and loneliness of that sin had I not of heard someone else’s story of hope.

Your story may be an easy one to tell or your story may be a tough one to tell. But you need to know this.

1. God loves you so desperately and so passionately that He would die for you; and He did.

2. You are not alone in your struggles; there are others in the world and probably others in this room that are going through something very similar to you.

3. When you share your story of hope, other people are able to find their story through yours.

It is tough when you first share your story. But I promise, the more you share your story, the more freedom people find. But also the more freedom you find.

Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Even when things get tough, even when its hard to tell.

God loves you and God is with you.

Tonight, we are going to ask you to do something that may be a little hard for you. But we are going to ask you to begin sharing your stories of hope with one another.