God Stories Worth Telling

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9-

As a pastor, I really get into hearing people’s God stories. Often, it is my privilege to hear somebody’s story first hand in my office, or in the moments immediately following service at our church. Many of the stories are the Christian equivalent of rags to riches: Having been thrown out onto the trash heap of life, a person finds Jesus (or rather Jesus finds the person) and everything changes.
These are the kinds of stories that get retold. The details capture our attention: “I remember the day my husband left me, and I was suddenly a single mom with no job.” “I cried for days after I got the diagnosis.” “Then the stock market crashed and I lost everything.”
The outcomes bring glory to God: “My faith community surrounded me in a way my family never had.” “I never would have guessed how much God would teach me through no the months of chemotherapy and hospital visits.” :I learned firsthand that God will supply every need.”
Maybe you don’t have that kind of dramatic story. The details might seem fairly mundane and ho-hum. You may appreciate it, but other people might not observe much amazing about it. Maybe your story wouldn’t make the cut when the book of incredible testimonies is being compiled. But you still have a story worth telling. You have been saved by grace, through faith.

Following Today
Think about your personal God story. Does it seem revolutionary — or boring? Jot down a chronological outline of it. Try to remember the “mile marker” kind of moments where you put a stake in the ground or turned to go a new direction. Indicate those times when you clearly saw the hand of God at work, providing or guiding.