Testimony Tip 2
The hard moments in life are also very valuable to bring up.
When I bring up prayer requests of moments in life that are hard, there are a lot of people who say that they’ll pray for me and then say, “Thank you for being vulnerable about this”. I originally found that interesting because that’s not how I viewed it. I viewed it as desiring prayer. Also, I’m not the kind of person who desires to hide when my life is hard. It did make something interesting come into my mind though.
People who have easier testimonies often seem to feel a little jealous of people who don’t have an easy testimony, but people who have harder testimonies often wish that they had an easier testimony. I know a couple of people who feel ashamed of what their past is like. I also know some people who might feel like their story comes across as hopeless or depressing.
Here’s what I have to say to those examples though. If you feel ashamed of what your life used to be like, know that God doesn’t see His followers that way. God sees His followers as changed people. He sees His followers as His children. He views His followers as people He loves. God has forgiven the past deeds of those who have fully given their heart to Him. Shame is a feeling that solely comes from Satan. If you feel like your story comes across as hopeless or depressing, know that God doesn’t intend for testimonies to come across that way. He is a God of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (fruits of the spirit). God won’t allow moments that may seem hopeless or depressing unless God has a good intent behind it. God is the one who altogether is in control. It may be hard to see at first, but it’s possible to see something good that’s hidden by something bad.
Thankfully, my testimony is easily not one that I feel shame about. My testimony is the kind that is more likely to seem hopeless or depressing due to bad things happening out of my control but, what do you know? God eventually helped me realize the joy behind it. Eventually, I found such a joy in the trials that I have gone through that I just couldn’t help but share those moments with others.
Maybe you’re one of those people who has an easier testimony, but there are examples in your life when God has appeared during the hard moments. First, sharing those examples as well gives even more proof that God has been in your life. Second, those moments happened for a reason. Finally, you’ll have a testimony that can relate to even more people.
I personally like to put myself in that category. My life has been full of struggles, but my life has easily been full of easier moments as well. I could say that I was born in an unequally yoked family, but I can also say that I was raised by my dad who has always been a great Christian example for me. I could say that things such as epilepsy have helped strengthen my relationship with God, but I could also say that things such as going to church and hanging out with Christian friends/family have helped strengthen my relationship with God. I could say that I used to be homeschooled because of how bad my seizures (and therefore my memory as well) used to be, but I could also say that I have great experiences going to a Christian school.
Maybe you’re the kind of person who doesn’t feel like there have been any hard moments in life. Don’t feel like you need to make up bad moments in life to add. People with this kind of testimony are easily able to declare how calm and peaceful God is able to make a person’s life. These kinds of testimonies can be proof that God does not desire for us to struggle in life.
Finally, maybe you’re the kind of person who hasn’t become a Christian yet. If you’re that kind of person, know that God wants you to be a part of His family. God is reaching out to everyone, including you, with His arms wide open. There is nothing that can stop you from being a part of His family other than the pure desire to not be. God wants you to be a part of His family and Satan wants you to avoid God. Don’t feel like there’s anything you could do that would stop God from wanting you to be with Him.
If you have an easy testimony, love it. If you have a hard testimony, love it. If you have a cross between an easy and a hard testimony, love it. If you don’t have a testimony, love the fact that God will give you one if you desire to have one. Thankfully there are no other possibilities. All testimonies from God are powerful. :) <3