The Power is in The Story

Has God called you to be His messenger? To share the Good News to those who haven’t heard? Whether from the pulpit, the cubicle, or the supermarket checkout, we who call ourselves Christians are called to share the Good News with others; this is very the reason you are still walking this earth rather than standing in heaven at this very moment.

I always believed I understood and lived by this principle until one day God asked me to do more. One year ago, I began to sense God preparing me to expand my writing and speaking efforts. Although I often shared the gospel at work, at the store, even to the person sitting next to me on an airplane, when I sensed God tugging at me to make this “who I was” rather than “what I did in between the cracks” of my regular schedule, hesitation and doubts began to creep in. What if people mock me? What if I appear foolish in what I say or write? The excuses were endless: “I’m not trained.” “I’m not experienced.” “We already have plenty of powerful, gifted Christian speakers, why do we need another one?” The list went on and on….

One morning a few months ago, on the very day I had intended to post my video testimony on the Internet, sharing my story of how I found forgiveness after abortion, I got cold feet. Opening my bible, I came to the verse in 1 Corinthians 1:17, “For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.” And further down, in verse 26, “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.”

Although these verses were both humbling and freeing, I was still afraid, and never did post the video. Then last Sunday, I heard our visiting preacher, Lance Witt, preach, “Do not underestimate the power of your story.” I even spoke with him afterwards confessing God has given me a story but I’ve been apprehensive to share it outside the church. Finally, just this morning, I took my bible and coffee outside to have my regular quiet time with God. Without even opening my bible, I heard God again tugging on my spirit, speaking to me through His Word written on my heart from years of reading the bible, “But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14 NLT)

I was thoroughly convicted. I knew God wanted me to share my story. I’ve actually known for quite some time. However, what I needed to understand was that it is not my choice of words or presentation style that has the power to touch hearts, but rather it is the power behind the words: the source of my courage to share my story—the very cross of Christ.

The NLT Life Application Study bible footnote says it best, “The persuasive power is in the story, not the storyteller.” God has simply asked me to share my story. It is now my prayer that through it, God will speak to countless hearts, providing the power of healing, forgiveness and victory.

Click here to watch the video: NamelessNoMore on YouTube

Shadia Hrichi

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