Sharing Your Story

Each of us has lived a unique life; we all have different stories to tell. Often our experiences overlap. Sharing your story can help in many ways. First, shared experiences can bring back happy memories—jumping in leaves, going to the beach, family birthdays. Second, sharing our experiences can bring wisdom. How others have dealt with their problems may help another work through his own. Last, sharing experiences can bring comfort simply by showing others that they are not alone. Something as simple as forgetting an assignment can create friendships, and shared trauma can knit people together. Sharing the experience of losing a loved one, suffering from an illness, or surviving a natural disaster can help a person connect to others. 

As humans, we crave companionship. We don’t like to go through difficult things alone. Often, when there is no easy solution, we may just be searching for someone who listens and understands. Sharing your story can bring happiness, comfort, and relief—not only to yourself but also to those around you. 

Stories can burn inside of us, and sometimes the only relief we find is by sharing that burden with others. By sharing things with those who cannot relate, we may only spread our pain. But by speaking to others who do understand, that pain may be shared and even lessened. 

I have struggled to share difficult experiences from my life. It has become a pride problem where I believe that I can solve my problems on my own, or that I am the only one who understands my problems. But when I share my struggles with others, I often realize that people understand much more than I thought. I’ve learned that I am not the only person who has struggled with depression or anxiety. I am not the only person who is disappointed when things don’t turn out my way. I am not the only person who makes mistakes or has regrets. 

Some of the most comforting words I have ever heard are, “I have been there too.” Through the writings of others, we can see that we are not alone in our struggles. Some of these struggles are hard to share with close friends or family, let alone an audience. But speaking or even writing about our problems can be a big step toward recovering from them. 

When we aren’t ready to share our problems with the world, as Christians, we still have a Friend that will always listen to our problems. God loves and cares for His children. The twelfth chapter of Luke is a beautiful reminder of God’s love and care for us. 

 

Consider the lilies how they grow:

they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you,

that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field,

and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you,

O ye of little faith?

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,

neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after:

and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock;

for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:27-32

 

 

 

 

God has prepared an unimaginable award for us in heaven. We should always be looking toward this, even in our earthly struggles. And during those struggles, God still cares for us. 

How can we show God’s love to one another? We can communicate with others; we can share their difficulties. We should seek out those Christians who are hurting and share God’s love with them. As God comforts us, so should we comfort others.

 

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,

that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,

by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,

so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation,

which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings

which we also suffer:

or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

2 Corinthians 1:3-6

 

 

We may not always see why God is bringing us through trials. We may never know until we reach heaven. But one thing God can use our struggles for is to allow us to minister to others. 

One of the best ways I have found to share burdens with others is through a prayer group. I meet with a dozen or so people on my college campus each Wednesday night after church. We sing, pray, read God’s Word, and share praises. The group is called Revival on Campus, or ROC. Last year, my brother Tyler started the tradition of passing an actual rock around the group as we shared praises and prayer requests. Whoever holds the ROC rock speaks. I guess it’s just one of the silly traditions that form when you bring a bunch of college students together weekly outside of class. 

During this time of sharing, I used to find it so hard to speak out. I am a shy person by nature, and I would rather keep things to myself, especially my problems and struggles. I have been going to this group for about three years, and it took me at least one and a half years to start regularly speaking. All that time before, I had felt the Holy Spirit leading me to speak. The prayer request or praise would be right there, but I couldn’t force it out in front of all those people.

It took me time, but I have grown to know and love so many people in this group. From the first time I shared, I remember people coming up to me after the meetings to ask me questions, to get to know me better, and to comfort me. Now, as a leader in the group, I have the opportunity to return that comfort to others. Realizing all the things I have in common with these people has been a big help, and the opportunity to talk about God in public has so greatly increased my love for Him. 

Talking and praying with others is so vital to the Christian life. I believe that finding a good, godly group of Christians you can relate to can truly change your life, and all Christians can relate through at least one thing—God’s love for us. I encourage you to find time to share your salvation and your story with others. 

 

Beloved, if God so loved us,

we ought also to love one another.

1 John 4:11

 

 

 

*This post is written by the talented Lauren Jacques.  She is a Senior at a small college in Sunny Florida where she is finishing a degree in Professional Writing. Lauren is currently an intern with The Peaceful Haven.

 

Your Turn…

In the comments below, share how you are sharing your story to encourage others.