Steve and I were headed to the coast and stopped for our usual lunch break—Chick-fil-A—Just twenty minutes from our destination, it was one last time to fill up on sweet tea. While Steve purchased our nuggets, I took our Bernedoodle, Molly, for a walk in the grassy area between Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’.
Molly sniffed, stretched, and well, you know. On our second turn around the quarter-acre plot of green, I noticed something shiny poking through the weeds. When I bent down to pick it up, my heart skipped a beat. It was a silver cuff bracelet that read, “This is my story. This is my song. Praising my Savior, all the day long.” What left me slack-jawed wasn’t just finding the bracelet, but that the bracelet was mine!
Three weeks earlier, Steve and I traveled the same road, stopped at the same spot, and walked Molly on the same plot of grass. I didn’t even realize the bracelet had slipped from my wrist. But God did. And there it was, three weeks later, in the exact place my story bracelet had fallen to the ground.
It was as if God were whispering, don’t forget your story…don’t lose the wonder.
See, I’ve had times in my life when I have forgotten the miracle of my story, and the sheer wonder of all God has done in my life. How He sought me and saved me. How He pulled a little girl from a difficult home situation with many heart wounds and placed her in a family of believers with many healed hurts. How He took an insecure teenager and transformed her into a woman who knows she’s equipped by the Father, enveloped by Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
And while I know all that is true, sometimes I forget. Slips right out of my mind somewhere between everyday challenges and difficult disappointments, just like that bracelet slipped right off my wrist between Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’…and I don’t even realize it.
I wonder if that’s why the word “remember” is a golden thread that weaves its way throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reminds us to remember.
In Deuteronomy, Moses wrote, “Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Deuteronomy 6:12 ESV).
David who wrote, “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done” (Psalm 143:5).
Remember. Don’t forget. Your story is your song. Sing it for all to hear.
As one song writer wrote, When I think about the Lord, how he saved me…It makes me want to shout, Hallelujah!” Oh, the joy of it! But sometimes I forget. And then God reminds me.
Peter is such a good example of a man who forgot his story. Jesus called Peter to become one of His first followers. Jesus was on the shore; Peter was in a boat. (Matthew 4:18-22)
But when Jesus was arrested and Peter denied he even knew Him, Peter lost his story (Matthew 26:69-75). Just as sure as the bracelet fell from my wrist in the grassy knoll, Peter’s fell from his heart behind the stone wall of the high priest’s home.
After Jesus was resurrected, He went to help Peter find his story…right where it had begun. On the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was on the shore; Peter was in a boat.
Peter was fishing. He had gone back to doing what he’d always done before he met Jesus. Then Jesus called out and told Peter to throw the nets on the right side of the boat for a super catch (John 21:6).
After Peter realized it was Jesus, he swam to the shore where Jesus already had breakfast waiting. There, Jesus reminded Peter of his calling and helped him remember his story: what he had been (a fisherman) and what he was now (a fisher of men).
I don’t know where you are today, if you’ve lost your story or you’re celebrating it. But I do know this, you’re reading these words because God is calling you to remember. Remember His story of salvation and your place in it. Remember that you are equipped by the Father, enveloped by Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Remember that you are a child of God who is dearly loved, completely forgiven, and forever free.
Remember what He has done in you and for you.
Remember your story. Remember His.
After I found my story bracelet lying among the weeds, I placed it on my wrist, gave it a squeeze to tighten its fit, and thanked God for all He had done. This is my story. This is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the way You have changed some of my worst chapters into my greatest victories. Thank You for pursuing me, saving me, and making me Your own. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Click on comment and share one or two elements of your story that you are thanking God for today.
Did you know that your story matters? Sharon’s book, When Your Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories will help you work through the pages you once wanted to rip out and turn them into pages you want to shout out. Your next chapter is waiting to be written.
Includes a Bible Study Guide.
© 2022 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.
Comments 59
I am grateful to the Lord for increased faith and divine revelation from him about my life. Hallelujah!
Thank you for my story God
Absolutely beautiful and Absolutely God! Remembrance, this is something that I have been visiting in the last few days, sorta led there by Holy Spirit. There has been things brought to mind and as they were I had instant understanding! It’s amazing how, if we’re open to it, the Lord will encourage us through good, bad and things just not even thought important enough to revisit! Isn’t He just the best friend ever?
I am overwhelmed at how God uses you to bring a message that I need to hear just at the right time! Thank you for being His ambassador of his word. You are truly blessed.
Love in Him,
Thanking God that he took my early morning & filled it with incredible joy as I remember his glorious transformation of my life!!
Thank you, Sharon, for sharing God’s uplifting words
Author
It sounds like you had a morning I would have loved to join you in!
My family suffered divorce. We went thru addiction ‘s and many things. I was divorced. Oh such a horrific hurt and still is too this day. My loved one still struggles with this. As we are separated the Family and unresolved hurt and pain. I ask the Father in Heaven to heal our hearts and our broken ess and show us how. 🙏✝️!!!
God saved me from alcoholism and eating disorders by bringing me to an Aa meeting. It was there that God sent a woman who approached me. It turned out that she ran an eating disorder program and had herself recovered from the chains if alcoholism and the food obsession and behaviors. That was 40 years ago and God sent me a wonderful man whom i spent this time with. I lost him almost four years ago and God has kept me on this path and has sent me wonderful Christian friends who continue to love and support me. I thank God every day for the gifts he has provided thru these times.
I am so thankful that the Lord has set me completely free from a selfish heart! It happened through giving a major gift. My husband passed in June. We had two vehicles that I was going to trade for one newer. But the Spirit impressed upon me to give the newer of our vehicles to a new immigrant family. In obedience to this, the Lord brought such joy! He has totally changed how I view things & this has been such a blessing to me.
Oh Sharon, I needed to read this! Beauty from ashes is my story! Thank you, thank you for reminding me how my Lord has only Love in His heart, to not leave us lost, like your bracelet, but found! What an amazing story. I always get excited when you show up in my email! Be blessed Sharon.
Dee
I’m so thankful, Lord, for my husband and children!!! Thank You for Your plans and timing!! Thank You for pursuing, calling, saving and sharing Your love through my life!!! Thank You for adventure!
I had a high stress job helping persons with disabilities remain safe in the community. My health suffered from the stress. My calling has always been helping others. God placed a new job in my path still helping, but in a different capacity.
Yes, me too!!!! God is good and knows what we need at just the right time!
I thank the Lord for saving me from taking my own life. He is my story and my song!
My past is not my whole story, thanks be to God! I am blessed beyond measure. Coming out of depression for ever now. I am not looking back 😕. I am swimming with Jesus day by day🥰
Thanking Him yet again for His patience in waiting for me to see Jesus — and believe on His Name.
Thanking Him for bringing me through all He did because He KNEW one day I would be His.
Remembering with awestruck wonder Gods great love to me: EARLY cancer diagnosis, STRENGTH throughout treatment, MAKING A WAY through recovery, BLESSING me with hope for the future that He is always with me. Hallelujah!
Father God, help me find my story. Last night I recommit all of me, my problem and my heart ❤️ to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank you for sharing your story.
Praise the Lord Maria!! Remember to take it one day at a time.
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Amen
I was blessed with a loving home and good parents. But, as a pastor’s wife, I experienced some trying times. But, God is good and He brought us through those times.
I am thankful that God has helped my with my anxiety and I am learning to control it with his strength. He is in control and I give it to him.
What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for this reminder of God’s unfailing love.
After a very difficult divorce that I participated in, I felt very empty. A friend of mine introduced me to Walk to Emmaus and from there I began to understand a little more about, even though it was little I knew it was there. I joined a church and also their bible study. The person that was the facilitator for the study soon became a friend. So much so that we would tell each other our hurts and pains and could share without feeling judged. On one day her and I kept texting back and forth during the day on things that were difficult, I was glad we had bible study to look forward to that evening. The group met in the church, saw a video (Beth Moore was doing a study on John (I think). As soon as my friend started the video, I sat in the front of the church and everyone else was behind me, including my friend. As soon as the video started, I wanted to turn around and look at my friend. I couldn’t because I was trying to cry softly, why you my ask, it was because it was like Beth knew everything my friend and I were texting about. She was talking to my friend and I. It was a supernatural experience I will never forget. I love my sisters in Christ and to this day I have contact with most of them. I am blessed.
Author
Isn’t it amazing that God knows exactly what we’re going through.
I was miraculously saved and healed from drug addiction 13 years ago!
I was at this guy’s house, in a really bad area.
I walked outside and God spoke from the heavens saying “I’m giving you one more chance” he said it three times. I was in a bad place I was going to hell but the loving God saved my life. I drove home and told God if you’re real take the addiction away take the craving away take the lust away and I’m not kidding a surge of electricity started from the bottom of my feet to the top of my head and boom something happened to me.
God supernaturally healed my body from drug addiction and I thank God every day.
Through God my parents also prayed for this miracle!
I serve a mighty God, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords: that is my story that I continue to tell others!
Oh that’s a WONDERFUL testimony!!!!
A kite hanging in my bathroom helps me remember God’s healing touch on me. He miraculously healed me of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (confirmed a miracle by my doctor). A month later, a man came up to me and gave me a heavy kite, and I ran flying the kite on the beach. God still heals!
Author
Wow. That is sooooo beautiful!
Thank you so very much for this beautiful story. It brought tears as to the hard year I have experienced. Thank you once again
Thank you for this beautiful witness and testimony. God always talks to me through my morning devotions. A stressful job, a divorce, a severe illness, etc.., but God has always been with me through it all. I never want to forget my story and always will sing “ Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name!” Thank you so much for sharing your love of Jesus.
Author
I love that song.
Praise the Lord for his grace and love that I don’t deserve. Praise the Lord for his presence in everything I do. Thank you, Lord, for protecting my husband, children, and grandchildren. Thank you for helping me through your word and Drs for my depression.
Wow totally going through the stuff right now and then God used you to bring blessings and encouragement. Thank you Sharon.
Author
It’s not over yet. Don’t lose heart.
Thank you Sharon for your “very timely” reminder to remember my story. TO NOT LOSE HOPE for GOD is not finished yet writing my full story. So timely reminder. I also like that song…”WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD”……Yes, I want to shout when I think about the Lord for His unending faithfulness….always chasing us to look at Him… at His face.
Author
Amen
What a beautiful story! I enjoy your writing so much! I’m thankful God continues to write my story day by day.
Author
Thank you so much!
Wow….such a beautiful story today! I had my first grandson born on the same day I totaled my car. But “I am still here!” After two months of healing, I was finally able to hold him. My story by God’s Grace is still being written. You are a blessing, Sharon.
Author
Thank you Deborah. I know it felt sooooo good to hold him in your arms.
Thank you Lord for salvation, I am free and secure in Christ. Also thanksgiving for freedom from a huge debt that God provided a way out miraculously.
I spent nights, for years, pleading with God to save me from the marriage I was in. “Change him, change me, please God DO SOMETHING, I can’t bear it any longer!” 44 years went by and God finally gave me permission to leave my unsaved husband. I met a wonderful Christian man after 3 years on my own. We’ll be married 3 years in March. I continue to praise and thank God for saving my life and giving me this man. It is only with him that I truly realize what was missing for those 44 years. Do that’s part of my story.
Author
I pray your next chapters will be all you hoped for!
I am grateful for my grandson who texted me last night wanted to know if his Mom had mentioned anything she wanted for Christmas. My daughter got a divorce 3 years ago and her son (now 24) has been hurt from the divorce. My daughter keeps hoping they can get back to where they were before the divorce. Hopefully, this Christmas it will be a beautiful reunion for them.
Author
What a precious question he asked.
Thank you for the reminder of His love, going through a rough couple of years with physical aliments, but this year has been particularly hard. I’m recovering from an adrenalectomy because of Cushing’s in September that He carried me through and then had an emergency gallbladder surgery 3 weeks ago that has been rougher, probably having 2 surgeries in 2 months has a lot to do with feeling so lousy. I needed this reminder of how He cares for us 🙏🏼Praying for healing like I see others have received here 🙏🏼 Thank you for all you do Sharon 🧡
Author
So glad you’re better.
I thank God, I am no longer a victim, but I am victorious.
Author
Amen sister!
I’ve been dealing with depression since I was very ill with Covid, and then long Covid. Jesus has rescued me and is helping me out of the pit of despair! Praise my Saviour all the day long!!
Author
So thankful.
I remember being told by 6 different fertility doctors I wouldn’t have children. I remember always as God blessed me with 1 amazing stepson and 2 of my own.
They are the best days of my life.
Author
Praise God!
God is soooo good!! I have been in severe, chronic facial pain following a root canal seven years ago. I can’t pretend that it has been easy, but Jesus has held my hand as I’ve pursued relief. I’ve had several procedures, have tried many medications and have seen doctors in four states without relief. Last week, I had a nerve block in my neck. It triggered increased facial pain that lasted one day but no neck pain (I have bulging disks and arthritis in my neck. I also have cervical dystonia.) Since then I have had no neck pain and reduced facial pain. I will be having another nerve block in January and then an ablation. I’ve been praying for relief for years. Even though it has taken several years, I trust in the Lord’s timing. There is a reason and purpose for my suffering. Because Jesus suffered for me, I am called to suffer for Him. We all are in different ways. I have drawn closer to Him and know that He still holds my hand. I am loved!!! May those of you who are also suffering (in any way) turn to our Savior. Proverb 3:5 provides me with much encouragement “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” My “understanding” is self pity. God’s “understanding” is that my pain helps me to grow closer to Him and more like Him. What a blessing!! Another scripture that I’ve embraced is “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. So very true!! May your suffering draw you ever closer to Him!!! He is good ALL the time. May the Christ child bless you!
I am thankful for your beautiful story because it came to me at just the right time. The Lord has given me so much confirmation, especially here lately, that he is with me and hasn’t forgotten me. He wants me to remember my story up to this point and to know he’s still writing it. He has equipped me and that is why I am able to stand.
Thank you for this great reminder! Where can I get one of these bracelets?
Author
I ordered mine on etsy.
He’s never given up on me.