Testimony: The Power of Story with a Twist
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
– Romans 8:28 NLT
The car sped along the freeway, as trees, houses, and grassland passed by.
Heading home from our regular chiropractic adjustment, my body not unlike the car, hummed.
It felt great to have had an adjustment, but unfortunately, the procedure had left my nervous system buzzing.Â
My mind wandered and zoned out a little.
A picture unfolded in my mind’s eye. I was in front of a large crowd, sharing my life story.
That image, being in front of a large group, that is the thing of nightmares.Â
Groan. Oh no, I hate public speaking!Â
My heart raced, and palms became sweaty at the thought.
Who am I to say no if God wants it?
The trees and power lines zipped by, one after the other.
The radio played several songs, but I wasn’t paying attention.
Maybe it would be okay?Â
I do love telling God stories, and what He has done. Hmmmm…
Peace.
The heart palpitations and anxiety settled.
If You want it, Lord, I’d do it...even if I find it hard. I’d be happy to share what You’ve done!
My family chattered away in the background, enjoying the drive home.
As we passed the farmlets on both sides, the picture and intricacies of speaking to a group grew in my thoughts.Â
What would I say?Â
What would I include, and what would I omit? What is my story?
The years of trouble, trauma, and affliction began listing off in my mind. Pages, books of life-changing events, attacks, strife, and as I took stock of the years one by one, I found myself unable to know how far back to go.
My heart was saddened by the plethora of lowlight events of my life.
Where did it all begin?Â
(CALLOUT) How is life measured? By pains? Or joys?
What if my lows outweigh the highs?Â
The corners of my mouth sank as I blankly stared off into the distance.
My story stinks, Lord. Why would I want to share it? It would depress people—not uplift them. And that is opposite to who I am.Â
The original picture panned out, revealing more of what I hadn’t seen in the first place.Â
As I shared my story, I saw some people felt sorry for me; some lapped up the life gossip; others were in tears; and some found themselves triggered as I shared something that reflected their own experience.Â
In my mind, most of the speaking time was spent covering the heavy main events.
My body began to ping and pang like lightening during an electrical storm-flash, bang, baz-ing!
This is the opposite of what I want people to experience or walk away with. How do I tell my story authentically, Lord?Â
I don’t want to sugar-coat the hard events. How do I honour You when so many painful things have happened? How do I share without it seeming like You were completely absent?Â
Time passed as I grappled with this problem of how to express the good God things without getting stuck in the detail of the awful.Â
The car rumbled along.Â
I noted a favourite, familiar tree; my eyes welcomed the sweet distraction. It had always piqued my curiosity, with its woven grey bark and ninety-degree angle.Â
I love that tree.Â
All the other trees around it stood, tall, straight and upright. Their branches stretched symmetrically, as “all good trees should.” The twisted tree had at some point fallen sideways, and there it remained. Â
Its roots were planted deeply in the soil, its trunk as thick as a large serving platter. It was branchless; these had been strategically pruned. This living tree now formed a kind of bench seat.Â
To others, it might’ve seemed out of place and broken, but to me…to me, it was an image of hope.Â
I can relate to this tree.Â
This tree is me.Â
Its brokenness had been repurposed and upgraded. The tree now served the landowners faithfully as a place to take a load off and rest for a while.
Yes, it isn’t like the others, but neither was I.Â
My mind stilled and became peaceful, happily taking in the rolling green hills and expansive paddocks filled with livestock.Â
Ask Me what My story of your life is, beloved.
The moment I heard this, my spirit quickened.Â
What is His story of my life? His story?Â
He has a story of me?
A smile found its way to my lips as I thought upon the possibility of His having a story of me. I considered the depth of what He had just expressed to me.
God’s story of my life?
God’s story of my life…
God’s story of my life!
The same vision replayed except this time I watched as God’s version of my story played out. Adventure, excitement, and hope bubbled up as I shared with the group His version of my story.
In every single bad event, trouble, and trauma, He was at work in it all. I saw Him bringing redemption at every turn…Â
Providing the right people at exactly the right moment,Â
Protecting me from even worse things that the enemy had planned,Â
Becoming the very thing I needed—whatever came, my Comforter, Encourager, Healer, Peace and my Friend.Â
He brought them all and more…Â
My story became one of God’s hand at work, rather than skirmishes and strife—His reframed, upgraded view became mine in an instant.
As a result, I began making a different list: His testimony of my story.
It reads so differently, Lord.Â
(CALLOUT) Life filled my core as I pondered…God’s testimony of my life.
I’d been focusing on the story of my life—my poorly filtered, broken version was a snippet of what had happened. Mine was a version of the truth—but not a whole one.
As we motored along, God revealing His fully redemptive story of my life.
One tear, then another and another trickled down my cheeks, as I experienced His version of my life.Â
My heart swelled with joy, my mind filling with good thoughts, my body encountered God’s version in surround sound and sensory delight.
Sitting there, surrounded by my family—my husband, our kids playing in the backseat. Craig, in the driver’s seat beside me, turned his head, and noticing my wet cheeks, he asked, “You okay, honey? What’s going on?”
In a completely different mindset now, one of hope and anticipation. I looked back at Craig and began sharing all that God had shared. With a single thought, He had turned everything right side up.
How much more can He do with a life that looks through His vision?Â
What had happened in this car trip proved to be life-changing. The hardships of the past were being reframed by Him and further healing came along with it.
Father’s Heart:Â
I know that you’ve endured so much, My child, but I was with you.Â
I know you have had some difficult beginnings and find yourself in challenging circumstances. My heart is grieved by the injustices and disappointments you have experienced.Â
All you’ve experienced will not be wasted.
I have travelled this road with you and comforted you during it, knowing a time would come where the things you have had to endure would accomplish My good purposes. Yes, even from within it.Â
I will bring you up out of this place with My mighty hand!
None of these are wasted in Me. Your story and your experiences will be used powerfully and mightily in My name.Â
I want to redeem the very things that have held you back, pulled you down or sought to steal your future.
I have the power, ability, and desire to do this for you because I love you.
You are My child whom I love.
Trust Me, My precious child. Trust Me with your past, your present, and your future. Trust Me with the ups and downs. Trust Me in the bad news, the life shocks and troubles—I am ever-present, ready to partner with you and bring you all that you need at any moment.Â
My testimony of your life is very different to how it feels in the moment.
When you find yourself reflecting upon the challenges or past struggles…Stop!Â
Take a moment. Breathe with Me.Â
Ask Me how I see the thing that captivates your thoughts.
Let Me take your hand, helping you to take the next step forward. It won’t always be comfortable, but I do promise you that I will be with you. You won’t ever be alone.Â
I promise you that these things that were sent to take your eyes off Me will strengthen our relationship…if you’ll let Me in.
Those hard things will accomplish great things through Me.
My heart loves to beat to the tune of Redeemer, Redeemer, Redeemer—this is exactly Who I am. And it is exactly what I love to do for you, beloved.
Let Me share with you how I’ve been by your side all along. Let Me reveal to you how your story is entwined with Mine.
Our stories together make for redemptive, sweet, and joyous living.Â
Come, delight of My heart, let’s walk a while together. I will show you marvellous things that will lighten your load and uplift your heart.
Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about His Son.
– I John 5:9 NLT
In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.
– Acts 14:16-17 NLT
but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
– Deuteronomy 7:8 NKJV
Praise be to the exalted Lord God of Israel,
for he has seen us through eyes of grace,
and he comes as our Hero-God to set us free!
Luke 1:68 TPT
to strengthen those crushed by despair who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful bouquet in the place of ashes,
the oil of bliss instead of tears,
and the mantle of joyous praise
instead of the spirit of heaviness.
Because of this, they will be known as
Mighty Oaks of Righteousness,
planted by Yahweh as a living display of his glory.
– Isaiah 61:3 TPT
Prayer:
Redemptive God, One Who has the truth-filled vision of my life,
It’s a gift, to see things through Your vision.Â
I recognize that I am only able to experience life one dimensionally at times, but You…You see all, wholly complete.
Let my heart, mind, and mouth, know, feel, see, speak and experience Your good testimony of my life.
Thank You for being there before I was born. I trust You have been guiding and loving me all along.
Thank You for Your precious Son Jesus and all that He accomplished through His death and resurrection for me.Â
Thank You for the gifts of relationship and adoption by You, Father.
I appreciate that You turn bad for good, terrifying for peaceful, the ashes to become beautiful memory stones of my life.
I love You.
I love Your ways. Please continue to reveal more of Your life-giving, hope-filled sight.
In the redemptive, grace-filled, loving name of Jesus.
Amen.
xxxxx
