No One Else Can Share Your Story.

Everyone has a testimony. A story. A statement of faith. A sharing with others of what God has done in their life that's changed them for the better. While we all have a message inside of us that needs to be shared, many of us keep it to ourselves. We give ourselves a thousand reasons why. We're not confident enough, we don't think we're important enough for anyone to care about our story, and so on.

I can't help but to think of John's testimony and how he so courageously shared his reason for being with anyone who would listen -- he was not the Messiah, but he was paving the way. John was the voice shouting in the wilderness - clear the way for the Lord's coming! (John 1:23). At the appropriate time, John stood up and did what he was created for --- to speak and share a testimony. No one knew who he was. The religious leaders asked him repeatedly, "who are you?" (John 1:21-22). Not only did they question who he was, they questioned his credentials (John 1:24). They couldn't seem to wrap their minds around how this man from the middle of nowhere thought it was acceptable to stand up and speak boldly of the coming Messiah. John, the man who hailed from the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey was more than qualified to speak of the Lord, as a matter of fact -- he was created for it. John was placed on this earth for one reason: to share his testimony with others and pave a way for the coming Lord.

Like John, the world will always give you a thousand reasons to keep quiet. They will question your motives. Your qualifications. After enough voices tell us why we can't or shouldn't do something, we tend to believe them. We often times silence our story because we don't have the aptitude to be bold and courageous. We fear opposition and only want peace, so we keep quiet. I can't help but to think of a grave yard. All of those souls laid to rest, now silenced and prevented from every sharing their story with the world. How many lives could have been changed and transformed if some of them had been more like John and spoke on the greatness of what God had done in their lives?

Our story needs to be told. Consider it an opportunity to have breath in your lungs today and the ability to share your story. If you don't....who else will?

(Photo Credit : Ryan Cheng)