There is a Place for Your Story


It happened again last night while scrolling through Facebook. I saw a message between two women I know, one congratulating and encouraging the other on a recent speaking engagement. I don’t know if it was more about the accomplishment or the relationship between the two women, but the reaction was quick and fierce.

Jealousy. Envy. Defeat. I wondered why I even try when there are so many others with a better message.

I’m thankful that God has had me in this place before because this time I recognized it quickly. Just as quick as the jealous thoughts entered, I took control of them before they could take control over me.

I was reminded that God has made a place for each of us. There is enough room for each message and each voice. Even better, there is a need for each message and each voice.

Even when our messages are similar, they are still different because each of us has a unique way of sharing our stories. Your voice and message may touch one person, while someone else’s words catch my attention.

Each of our stories has the potential to reach out and draw someone closer to God. {Tweet this}

A life experience that brings someone to take a breath and say Me too! is a story worth sharing. It benefits both sides in ways we may, or may not, see. But God knows.

He has plans for our stories and He will use them to reach others. {Tweet this}

The jealously I started to feel when reading that Facebook message suggests there is only one story to tell, one way to tell it, and only one person to voice it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Satan knows that, but he will use it anyway to keep us quiet.

How often is he successful in keeping us from speaking? It almost happened to me last night. Even misplaced feelings of defeat are powerful in keeping us silent. But the Truth is much more powerful.

There is a place for your voice, and mine. Not one or the other, but both. God intends for us to share and encourage others through what He has brought us through. 
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT 
God has a time and place for each of our stories to be shared. The comments I read last night had nothing to do with me. They were God’s time and place for someone else. 
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 ESV 
There will always be someone else to speak up…but how do we know we’re not missing the appointed time and place God planned for us to speak? Right now. Right where we are. To reach someone God has placed on our path.

Last night, I was able to recognize quickly when negativity started to creep in, so I did three things. First, I closed Facebook and got offline, because that’s often the best line of defense. Then, I went to bed, and while I fell asleep, I planned to write this post in the morning.

In Christ,
Laura 

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]


10 comments:

  1. Laura, I so appreciate the transparency with which you shared your feelings. This past week, I have been thinking about how Jesus would have come and suffered on the Cross even if it were only for me. He is a personal Savior, reaching out to us - one at a time. And so it is with our own lives. Our stories, may we humbly share them, even with the one. Much to think on today.

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  2. Laura- I love our honesty. I was battling these feelings last night.The devil sure likes to hone on these feelings, doesn't he?
    Thank you for your encouraging words!
    #TellHisStory
    Julie

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  3. I love this post, Laura. Especially this: "The comments I read last night had nothing to do with me. They were God’s time and place for someone else." I'm so glad you took those three steps you outlined at the end. :-) Visiting from Heart Encouragement Thursday.

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  4. "There is enough room for each message and each voice." So true, I know these feelings well.

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  5. Comparing will kill what ever desire God gives us to tell our stories. I just recently started writing about our seven years in Bolivia. Only got a couple of post up then wanted to do a Thanksgiving post and hope to get back to more stories. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  6. Laura I find such comfort in this post. Often the details of our story are difficult and challenge our faith, but we can have faith that God is in our story and will use it. Thanks so much for this encouragement.

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  7. Thank you, Laura, for this post. I so often slip into that very same place. It doesn't even take seeing the good of another, but simply maybe a not-so-good day on the home front, and all of a sudden I am doubting everything God has been doing through the words He is giving me. I know it is the enemy working in my weak spots so I know I have to cancel the lies with truth. And today you have given me even more words of truth to speak over the lies! And, can I just say, you have a beautiful voice and a powerful message and I am so very glad you tune out the devil just as soon as he starts to whisper!

    Thanks so much for sharing at #MomentsofHope!
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

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  8. Laura, I loved reading this today. The message you shared here is something I am constantly needing to be reminded of. It is SO true. thank you

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  9. Love this reminder. Its something I've battled with too. Its true that our stories all have a place and someone needs to hear them. We all have value and worth. I love how you handled the situation by getting off social media and going to bed. :-) I pray I can be as quick to turn aside from jealousy and defeat next time too.

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  10. Comparison and even envy creep in but He has a plan for us all.

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