A few years ago, an associate pastor asked me to speak to a small Wednesday night gathering. As we sat on the front row waiting to get started, he leaned over and asked, “What’s your favorite hymn?” I smiled and answered him without hesitation. He immediately sprung to his feet and led the group in that hymn before introducing me. Those lyrics, and even the melody, helped fix my mind on the importance of the story I was about to tell.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, a text from my daughter popped up on my phone:
“Random question: what’s your favorite old-time hymn?”
Again, I smiled and replied with the same answer I’d given the pastor:
“I Love to Tell the Story”.
Indeed, I do love to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His glory – of Jesus and His love. It satisfies my longing like nothing else can do.
I also love to tell how my little story weaves its way through God’s bigger story. Human stories connect us, inspire us, teach us, remind us, and motivate us. Stories make us relatable. The Bible contains hundreds of individual stories of ordinary people who became threads in the tapestry of God’s greater story. You are also one of those threads.
“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, so that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
My husband and I traveled to Kentucky in 2016 to visit Noah’s Ark and the Creation Museum. While attending a nearby church, we had the pleasure of listening to film producer Brian Wells describe “A Hero’s Journey”. He listed five common components included in every good story.
Hallmark movies certainly follow this formula. And, even though we know how all of those stories will end, we’re continually intrigued by new faces and places.
If you sit back and reflect on your God stories, you might soon notice that your best stories also followed the same heroic journey. You responded to adventure’s call, most likely in the company of friends. A problem surfaced that tested your faith, character, desires, or strength. The once merely-annoying problem escalated and became so overwhelming that you doubted your survival. If the escalation continued, your thinking might have gotten distorted enough to make you believe others would be better off if they didn’t have to put up with all your stinking thinking. That’s a lie! In the middle of giving up you must make the choice to ask for help.
Let me stop here and say this: if you are struggling right now, keep reaching out until you get the help you need. You are not alone. You are not the only one who feels the way you do. Things will get better. You matter to more people than you realize. Your transformation is just around the corner, and soon, you’ll be revitalized by the goodness of God. Take comfort in Paul’s words concerning his many trials:
“Then [God] told me, ‘My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.’ Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so, the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, The Message
Acquiring this kind of attitude through humble surrender allows us to be changed on the inside. I’ve heard it said many times, “You may argue with someone’s theology, but you can’t argue with their transformation.” Each story you tell offers a snapshot of your unique journey. When we wrap our personal, life-changing stories inside the far greater story of God’s relentless love, no one can argue.
Fellow believers need to hear our stories of God’s power, provision, and protection to encourage them to run faster, longer, and stronger on their journeys. Unbelievers need motivation to help them to find their own God-given adventure. They may not be able to relate to Jesus yet, but they can relate to us.
While we may be the main characters in our stories, none of us is the hero. Our souls find rest when we humbly admit that Jesus is our story’s only hero! God gave Him the greatest adventure of all time. The wonder of God came to earth wrapped in skin, not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for us. (Mark 10:45) With the help of the Holy Spirit and angels, He endured tests and trials. He suffered to the nth degree, so we wouldn’t have to. He paid our way to heaven. Then, when Satan thought he’d won the Greatest-of-All-Time contest, Jesus’ lifeless body transformed into a glorious living one. Satan languished in defeat and Jesus handed us the crown of victory! There is no greater story we can enter into, no greater power we can harness, and no greater love we can experience. Telling our stories of God’s redeeming love offers Him no greater praise!
“I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story because I know ’tis true. It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do. I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.”
Donna Jackson
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#donnajacksonblogs
