A few weeks ago, my husband and I sat across the table from our friends who pastor in a neighboring city, enjoying dessert at a local bingsoo shop in Seattle. We’d been chatting about ministry and all things church growth and revival in the Northwest, and the conversation came around to my sweet friend’s testimony.
If you saw her today, you’d see a beautiful, godly lady. You'd see a wonderful pastor’s wife, an example of holiness, a faithful wife and mother, and a dedicated Christian. You’d think she’d been living for God all her life.
She’d shared a little bit of her testimony with me before, but shared a little more with us that day. And I was reminded just how powerful our testimonies really are.
Sometimes we think our pasts are something to be buried and forgotten, and I’m sure some of us have things we’d like to keep to ourselves.
But I also believe there’s power in sharing with others where God brought you from.
There’s power in showing just what God is capable of.
We are witnesses of God’s saving, delivering, transforming, healing, restoring power.
Our testimonies shout of His mercy and love.
It reminded me of the miracle in John 9 where Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth. He happened to heal this man on the Sabbath day, so the Pharisees felt the need to investigate. They interrogated the healed man and his parents, trying to find out more about who Jesus was and how the healing took place.
The parents didn’t know who healed their son, or how it came about.
The man didn’t really know much about Jesus either, thinking maybe He was just a prophet.
The Pharisees called Jesus a sinner, claiming He had worked on the Sabbath by healing the blind man.
Finally, the now healed man shared a powerful statement.
“He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).
I may not know much.
I may not have all the answers.
But one thing I know.
I have a testimony.
I was blind, now I see.
My friends, there is power in your testimony.
I was lost, but God found me.
I was a sinner, but God changed my life.
I was broken, but God put me back together.
Powerful.
I saw my friend as the wonderful, Christain lady that she is today. But that made her testimony that much more powerful.
Just look at all God has done!
For me, a church planter in Seattle, her testimony also reminded me that there are precious people in this world who are hungry for God. People who want to know the Word and be filled with His Spirit.
No matter what the devil, or the media, would like me to believe, there are people just like my friend.
So share your testimony.
Don’t be ashamed of the ugly parts.
Don’t believe the lie that you have nothing to say.
Don’t think for a minute that you can’t be a light to someone in this lost world.
Let the glory of God be revealed in you.
There’s power in your testimony!
