“You are never too broken for God to use your story.”
After sharing my story with a group of young ladies, I ended with these words. The ladies had walked some rough paths, and we talked about how sharing their stories could help someone else navigate a similar journey. Afterward, one of the ladies approached me, wiping tears. “I was told never to share my story,” she said. “It is embarrassing, shameful, and full of failures. They told me never to let anyone know the depth of my pain.” Holding her story in had resulted in even more hurtful situations. She had sought comfort in all the wrong places, and it was no accident she ended up in the room with us that day.
We sat down, and I listened to her story. It was a miracle she was still alive. The young
lady shared the details of what she had overcome, and I realized how God’s hand had held her through every part of her journey. He had loved, guided, and protected her, and now she was ready to begin a new chapter. The young lady and I prayed together, and then she told me she didn’t want to walk in this broken place of shame any longer. The moment had come to begin sharing her story. God has a purpose for her, and He will redeem every broken place she walked through. Her story will touch so many loves.
I saw this quote by Sharouk Mustafa recently:
“May you never be the reason why someone who loved to sing, doesn’t anymore. Or why
someone who dressed so uniquely, now wears plain clothing. Or why someone who always
spoke so excitedly about their dreams, is now silent about them. May you never be the reason
someone gave up on a part of themselves because you were demotivating, non-appreciative,
hypercritical, or even worse—sarcastic about it.”
As I read those words, I thought about the voices that tried to silence this young lady and devalue her story. She had endured so much pain because of the silencing, but now, she is walking in freedom because of her story. When we allow someone to speak their truth and dream of a better future, we are assuring them God will use their story. Let’s encourage one another, appreciating and celebrating our stories together. Someone on a rough path is listening for your voice.
We need your story. Share it with someone today.