Have you ever felt called to write your story?
I don’t necessarily mean writing a book. Although, that might be what you feel called to do.
Writing your story can take many forms other than a published book. It can simply mean taking the time to reflect on what God is doing in the here and now.
Maybe like me you’d rather wait until the mess has been sorted out.
You know, that unresolved pain, the lingering diagnosis, the unrelenting grief. Yeah, that stuff.
I’d rather write my story from a place of victory.
When I feel as if I’ve overcome, then I know that there’s a story to be told. It will be an encouraging one that can point others to Christ.
But what happens when your story is messy? How about when you feel God nudging you to write your story right in the middle of the mess? Would He really do that?
I don’t know about you, friend, but I sometimes feel like shrinking back from the hard stuff.
But this God of ours doesn’t let me off so easily.
Right there in the middle of the mess, when I can’t see my way clear, He’s calling me into deeper waters.
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He’s calling me to a place of trust.
Over the last three years or so, I’ve really had my faith tested through different seasons of loss. Every year seemed to bring another calamity.”Â
When words flow
Just recently, a fellow-writer invited me to do an interview on her site. Liz Margaret has been running her Confidence Without Compromise series for the last few months and mine would be Interview #15.
What could possibly be special about mine?
It wasn’t until I penned those words — when they all rolled together all messy and beautiful — that I realized God wants me to tell this story. His story.
I’ve been amazed over the years at how God has used this ministry to minister to my own soul.”
The words that spilled out on the page have been like a balm to my weary soul.
In spite of the loss and the pain and the many questions, God was in the midst of it all. He’s always been there but maybe I forgot to look up and see Him.
And so, I pray my story will encourage you, dear friend. Not because my story is more special than any one else’s but because God is in it.
He’s in your story too.
Write Your Story
I encourage you today to pause for a moment to write your story. Pray, reflect and journal. And as you write one word after another, look for the places where God shows up. I bet you’ll be amazed to find that God has always been there.
After all, your story is His story. And your story is a beautiful one.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
    I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” – Psalm 9:1-2
How about you?
Have you shied away from writing your story hoping to highlight only the good parts? What if God wants you to write it all? Mess and all.
Share your thoughts in the comments, then I’d love for you to stop by and read my story over on Liz Margaret’s site.
Photo credit: Pixabay
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And if you’re looking for more encouraging and inspiring content, check out these amazing sites where I link up my weekly posts.
Missed the #SummerSizzleBlogHop?
During June and July, I teamed up with some of my blogging besties to highlight our top posts in the #SummerSizzleBlogHop. Each week we shared a reader favorite from each of our blogs: Counting My Blessings with Deb Wolf, Valerie Murray, Ruthie Gray, Dawn Klinge, Nicki Schroeder, Diana from Diana’s Diaries, Melanie Redd, Married by His Grace with Carmen Brown, and of course right here at SunSparkleShine.
If you missed it you can catch them all here.Â
Did someone say giveaway?Â
Bringing the #SummerSizzleBlogHop to an end has been bittersweet to say the least. Rumor has it that a giveaway might be just the cure for our Summer Sizzle blues. Follow me over on Instagram where we’ll be sharing all the details soon.
Thank you so much for writing this. God has been putting on my heart to share on my blog about myself and my story, and I have been reluctant to do so because as you have said “who would want to hear it, what would it benefit?”. But God has not stopped pressing this on my heart, and so I obeyed and began writing about my story on how I fell in love with God and how I met my husband and married him after only 30 days of talking to him on the phone. God asked me to share this story, and lately he has been asking me to share my “mess” I am dealing with now in my walk and my struggles. But again like you I want to wait until I had it figured out and could write a problem, then an answer for my readers, but God is calling me to share that I have struggles and how I walk with the Lord in my daily struggles. And I have been doubting it was Him putting this on my heart, but God is good and used this to confirm and show me “exactly” what he has been telling me tonight. So thank you for your obedience to the Lord in writing this!
Marva, what precious words of equipping and encouragement! On the day you wrote this post was the same day that I was writing my post talking about a part of my life that I couldn’t make public until July 31. It is hard. But I’ve also seen how God has used my messy, uncertain, unresolved pain so powerfully in the lives of others. Thank you for what you do!
It’s been in the last year or so that I’ve taken time to write more of my story. There’s a huge heartache that I’ve been slowly processing and writing helps immensely. Thank you for sharing this post and for encouraging us all to write!
I hear you, Alida. Processing a heartache isn’t easy at all. I pray that God will take the ashes from your story and help you see the beautiful masterpiece He’s creating. I don’t always see it either but I trust He knows what He’s doing.
May He offer extra grace for the journey as you heal.
Be blessed!
“I’d rather write my story from a place of victory.” How I’ve often been there! Thanks for the encouragement that God uses our story before the victory as well.
It’s a slow lesson I’m learning, Jamie. Thanks for hopping over today.
Blessings to you!
Yes, Marva I have hesitated to write my story. I clearly heard God say write, but I dragged my feet. In fact, in my journal I wrote, “How can I write a story when the ending isn’t good yet.” Oh, how wrong I was. We all need to tell our stories.
Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Christian Link-Up.
I can so relate, Maree. I wish I could see the beautiful ending that’s coming. But with God, I know it’s there. It always is.
Blessings to you as you persevere through the mess, dear friend.
I just absolutely love this, Marv! And I get to see up close how beautifully that story plays out even in the mess. To God be the glory! Thanks for the encouragement not to wait for the mess to clear but to joyfully and courageously share His story through my life. Love you, my sister! 🙂
Thanks, Carlie. God has weaved beauty all through my mess (or the other way around). 🙂 Either way, He’s working a masterpiece and I’m blessed to get to share it.
Love you lots!
Marva, I couldn’t agree more. One of our former pastors used to say that it’s important that we are real when we share our story with others. Otherwise, people look around at church and think they are the only ones who are struggling. We all need to share our stories because not only is it good for us, but others need to know that they can trust Him in their messes, too.
I love how you put that, Donna. It’s as if we give others freedom to be real when we share our stories (including our messes). I think your pastor was on to something. 🙂
Blessings to you!
Love this challenge. To write our story in the mess is tough! It’s vulnerable and uncomfortable, but what God can do through us is way more powerful. Your story in the interview shows that. An encouraging and powerful testimony that shows a heart willing to follow and obey God. That’s all He asks of us. Thanks so much for sharing the interview in this awesome post, Marva. It’s an honor to feature you!
The honour is mine, Liz. I think God is showing me that my story doesn’t need to be perfect for it to bless someone else. Thanks for bringing those words out and pointing me to a good, good God.
Blessings to you!
Writing about your victories and testimonies is a good practice. Because when you find yourself in trouble again in the future, you can go back to these experiences to draw courage and faith. Testimonies based on your own experiences!
Yes, Guang. It’s amazing how God uses our own stories to bless others AND ourselves.
Thanks for joining the conversation — it’s so good to have you here!
Marva, “When we can’t see our way clear, it’s clear God is calling us to a place of trust.” Love that!
It’s so true, isn’t it Debbie? Glad it resonated with you.
Blessings.
If this didn’t speak to my spirit Marva, I don’t know what will. I want it figured out before I write it down, and God doesn’t operate that way. He needs us to share while we are in it. People understand more in the middle. They appreciate the back end but the faith in the meantime speaks more than a happy ending ever will. Talking to myself here.
I just love when you talk to yourself and I get to listen, Brittany. 🙂
I want to get to the happy ending… and quickly! Gosh, God must get tired laughing at me so often.
I appreciate you stopping by and being such a faithful friend.
Blessings on your week as you prepare to head back to school.
I love this. I believe our stories are how we connect others to Jesus. laurensparks.net
Great point, Lauren, lest they feel they’re all alone.
Thanks for visiting today. Blessings!
I wrote my story to some extent on my blog, although I share faith about healing and rest, I tried to focus on looking to Him as my source. I have found that just talking about the tough places, can be discouraging, it’s never over and He has the happy ending penned for us to seek out.
I know what you mean, Rebecca. Sometimes I feel like a stuck record when I talk about tough times — and that’s especially discouraging when you have a blog with a name like mine! 🙂 But it is for that same reason that I choose to keep my eyes heavenward.
Thanks so much for stopping by and getting the conversation started!
Blessings to you.