As we role into Thanksgiving week, I’m thinking how thankful for how God took the messiest parts of my story and turned them into the most miraculous.
I used to cringe at the thought of telling parts of my story. People in my small town thought that my family was a typical American family with two kids and a collie dog named Lassie. We certainly dressed the part…my mamma made sure of that. I remember sitting in high school homeroom laughing on the outside but crying on the inside. If they only knew my shame whispered.
You can imagine my resistance when God prodded me to speak up and tell how He transformed my secret alcohol-induced violent childhood into a public grace-infused peaceful adulthood. Would you rather they think well of you, or think well of Me, He seemed to ask. But when I finally planted the seeds of my story, God brought in a harvest of souls that boggled my mind.
Every redemptive story, like a raw seed, cannot realize its potential until it is planted in the heart of another human being. And a plant born of a seed will become a plant that bears more seeds.
One day, Jesus told a parable to a group of listeners. We’ve come to know it as the Parable of the Talents, but it is really more the Parable of the Three Choices. Jesus used the parable to explain what the kingdom of heaven would be like.
For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. (Matthew 25:14–18 ESV)
When the master returned home, he was pleased with the two servants who had invested and doubled their talents. The master praised them by saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23 NIV). But he was furious with the one who buried his one talent in the ground because of fear.
You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. (Matthew 25:26–28 ESV)
A talent was a measure of weight. Some translations say “bags of gold” instead of the word “talent.” But Jesus was teaching us about far more than investing money. He was demonstrating what God expects us to do with what He has entrusted to us in every area of life. We can plant what He gives us and watch it grow, or we can bury it the furrows of fear and walk away.
You may feel that you wasted part of your life because of failure, but the greater waste would be not telling what you learned from that failure. How God picked you up after you fell down. How God turned you around when you were headed in the wrong direction. How God drew you in when you had pushed Him away.
I wonder if you have any bags of gold that are buried in the ground because of fear? Fear of rejection, embarrassment, or what others might think of you? Fear has no choice but to leave the premises when you stand on the promises of God and say, “You are not welcome here.”
At this point in my journey, I’ve come to fear what would happen if I did not tell my story. Who would not be encouraged to take one more step, breathe one more breath, make it through one more day?
Who would not know that she’s not the only one?
Who would not catch a glimpse of her future hope regardless of her painful past?
And for that, I refuse to bury the talent that is my testimony when I have the choice to invest it into a human heart instead.
If you say yes to God and share your story of redemption, be prepared to hear these words from the Master, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 ESV).
And remember, the opportunity to tell your story could happen anywhere, and you never know when your smallest investment will multiply in another’s heart.
“Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story” (Psalm 107:2 NIV). This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.
Heavenly Father, thank You for entrusting me with great treasure in my story. Thank You for saving me, redeeming me, using me. Help me to keep my heart open to sharing my story with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Digging Deeper
Your story is one of the most precious gifts God has given you. It may not feel like it at times. You may have chapters you want to rip out. But those chapters may be the very ones God wants to repurpose for good.
Grab a copy of When You Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories and become a story seed planter. (Includes a Bible study guide)
I love to wear this bracelet to remind me of the power of Jesus
and the blessing of how He changed my life. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long! It is also available on sharonjaynes.com.
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Comments 15
Thank you Sharon, beautiful story!
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Thank you!
Good morning, Sharon. I’m truly always blessed from your post. Thank you. This is my story…my testimony…praising my Savior all the day long. Continued Blessings.
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Thank you, Mattie!
God, thank you for this which brought conviction and encouragement! If my story makes me look bad yet draws others to you, I will share it! I’m not who I was and it’s all because of Jesus! 🙌
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It won’t make you look bad. It will make you look like a miracle.
Thank you Jesus for using the worst aspects of my life for your glory and honor! I praise you all the day long and thank you for the precious souls you have brought into my life that I can share with about Jesus!
Happy Thanksgiving all!
God Bless✝️🙏
I have been beyond discouraged because it feels like my entire family is against me — the 3 precious children (23, 20 & 13) who I have loved as my own since I have none. I’ve been there at just about everything from them growing up — even more so than their own father, who had selfish reasons for not coming. He is very much a narcissist & is a big bully & his bad habits & traits have trickled down the line — from my sister, my oldest nephew, my niece & my youngest nephew. My niece graduated from high school & wss out of here. She upped in the Navy & couldn’t get away from here fast enough it seems. If I had to live with him I just might do anything to get away from him too. He can’t stand me & spews all kinds of stuff to his family & it’s like they are brainwashed now. He’s just so hateful to me & now my oldest nephew is sounding just like him. He has totally broken my heart these last few days & his little brother has sided with him, which really was a punch in the gur because I thought he was my little buddy & that we were tight. I told him I felt like he totally betrayed me & I asked him if he ever felt that way & he said yes, by a friend but it didn’t really bother him (not sure that I believe him though). So I asked how it would feel if it were his someone who is family & he just shrugged his shoulders. I don’t want his dad & his big Brother to ruin this sweet boy. And I want them to quit being so awful to me. The devil is really attacking my family — & the strange thing is, he did this last year at this time too. I was totally ready to toss in the towel & I begged & begged God to take me home to live with Him & my sweet Daddy & two best friends. No, I’m not suicidal but sometimes I wonder why I’m even around & if they would miss me if I wasn’t here. I live with my Mom now but I often wonder what will happen to me when she dies. The other night he told me that went Nana died, I was out of this house. Who does that to their aunt? He’s totally disrespectful & talks awful to me — things I could never doing to my aunt. I know that I have made mistakes over the years & he has seen them, but I’ve always been good to him & all the good I’ve done should amount to something. I guess part of my problem is I feel things deeply — I’m very empathetic. Last year they cut me to the bone & just when I think things are better the bottom falls out & at Thanksgiving & Christmas time. He’s walking all over my Mom, who is 83 & has memory issues. She has had a 180 personality change & there are things I never thought I’d see or hear her say. She’s hit me, slapped me & kicked me. She’s told me I’m crazy & need to be in a hospital because I need help. She’s accused me of hurting her on purpose. Once I had to grapple the keys away from her because she was going to pick up my nephew over an hour early & sit in her van & the air wasn’t working right & it was over 100 degrees. She wouldn’t listen — she’s very, very stubborn & so I had to physically take her keys away & I hurt her arm because she pulled away. The other time, she pushed past me & I Grabbers her arm to keep from falling. I have neuropathy & my balance is often unsteady & I have to use a rolator walker. She told my nephews that I hurt her & left a bruise, when all I did was grab her arm to keep from falling. And they believed her. She was just spewing stuff & they were just soaking it up & then they turned into judge & jury, cinvicting me without even talking to me or asking me what happened. Then she tries to pit my sister & I against each other, why I don’t know. One day we were arguing, as we often do, & Mom says “You can’t always believe everything I say.” I’m sure you can imagine my utter shock. I’m just feeling so beat down & then I read your article. All my life, things have NEVER been easy. I was made fun of & bullied all through school & now I’m still being bullied at 57 & by my own nephew. I have been hurt by guy after guy, betrayed by friends, lost out on things I rightfully deserved because I didn’t know the right person or I wasn’t a popular kid. It is ALWAYS something. But at 10, I accepted Jesus & He has always been there even when I have strayed & not been as faithful as I should have been. He has walked beside me & all too often carrier me because I simply didn’t have the strength. I thought I was getting away from Him having to do that, but it seems we are back there again. I’m so grateful for a faithful, loving God who loves me even with my many mistakes & failures. And I am so grateful for His unending grace — oh how I wish the world would give a little of that, especially my own family. But I know that even during these difficult times, He remains faithful & loves me unconditionally. I just sometimes need to be reminded. I’m hoping & praying that God can indeed use my really hard & heart wrenching times to help encourage & bless someone else. I know that these hard times have been learning experiences for me & they have only served to make me a stronger Christian. Tonight I needed reminding of all this & I read your article & feel better. Not a 100% but not as bad as before & I know God will help me through these troubled waters, just as He has done in the past. I just thought I’d share, but I didn’t mean for it to be this long, but once I started the words just started flowing. So sorry about that. Thanks for the encouraging article & for sharing your story. May you have a very Happy Thanksgiving & a very Merry Christmas. God Bless!! đź©·đź©·đź©·
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I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard time. But you’re so right, He will help you through! Isn’t that good news!
Sharon, once again you have encouraged me to use the pain of my story to breathe hope and encouragement into the hearts and lives of others!
Praising my Savior all the day long…..
A “Thanksgiving” indeed and a blessed one to all!
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Praising God with you!
Amen, thank you, Sharon. For my birthday, I was interviewed about my life by my daughter. 2.5 hours of conversation, and now, she knows more about my story, and for that I’m thankful.
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That is so awesome.
Thank you, Sharon! God doesn’t waste a thing! He will use all for our good and His glory if we let Him. Many have found hope as I have voiced my story. And it is my passion that others bound to their past find the freedom in Christ for which He died to set us free. (Galatians 5:1).
This is the confirmation and encouragement that I need to propel me to actually write, not just speak, my story.
Thank you!
Praying a blessed Thanksgiving.
“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” Amen? (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Good evening Sharon,
I shared my story with someone via her website, I thought she would be someone I could confide in at that time, this transpired about 5 years ago. I shared my story of molestation by my older brother, when I was quite young.
This person never acknowledged my email, she does have a presence on the internet. She does have my email address, because I receive her blog subscription’s.
I will be honest, I am full of shame and rejection. Since my parents have passed away, I have no family. My brothers have rejected me and my extended family does not keep in touch. If they ever knew what my brother did, they would be mortified. Because they think he is so special, he’s quite outgoing and he is loved by everyone.
My Dad who I adored introduced me to Jesus Christ, and God, and the Holy Spirit. So I am a believer, but my Faith and Obedience is not as strong as it was when I was a child.
For now this is all I can share comfortably.
God Bless You for your books and blog.
May God bestow many blessings upon you and your family.
Your friend,
S