By: Robin Halvorson If someone asks you to share your testimony, what immediately comes to mind? For many Christians, it’s terror! They think they will be exposed as a phony, made to appear ignorant, or not good enough to be a follower of Christ if they share their past struggles. Sharing our life experiences feels vulnerable and oftentimes scary, but sharing the story of how Jesus has delivered you could be the key to unlocking someone else’s heart and bringing them to know the Lord! I love this quote by Brene Brown about bringing light into the dark places of our hearts, “The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It's our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows.” By choosing to keep our stories in the dark, we actually keep our joy in the dark as well. Being vulnerable and sharing our testimony brings light, not only to our hearts, but also to the hearts of others.
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, a testimony is “proof or evidence that something exists or is true.” By sharing how God has brought us through our pain, we are giving evidence that God does exist, that He is good, and that he heals the broken-hearted. This idea is supported by scripture: “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” -1 Peter 3:15- I attended a well-known Christian university, and was a chaplain to the girls’ basketball team for three years. During my first year, I struggled with connecting with the girls I was supposed to lead. I am the least athletic person you will ever meet, and I did not know how to be a “spiritual leader” to girls that I thought I had so little in common with. As I prayed for a solution, the Lord began to talk to me about allowing them to see my weakness and see into my heart. He said, “You love people through being vulnerable.” This terrified me! I thought I had to be perfect in order to lead; I thought they needed to revere me as some “super-human Christian” that had no flaws! But, I began to step out slowly and let them see the “real me.” I shared stories of my broken childhood, shared stories of my current struggles, and I shared how the Lord has been good to me and a faithful father through it all. It didn’t take long and these girls were sharing their lives with me as well! They would come to me with concerns and struggles of their own, and they began to allow me to pray with them and help guide them back to Jesus’ heart for their lives. It didn’t matter that I was not an athlete, I was open and authentic, and connection grew from that place. I still remain connected to many of them to this day! “You are a light of the world. A town built on a hill that cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:14-16 We are not meant to get saved, delivered, and set-free and then hide in our homes and never tell anyone about it. NO! Jesus saved, delivered, and set us free so we can share the good news with others we encounter. You, beloved, are a light that cannot be hidden. Your life is living, breathing evidence that God exists, So, share your story with the world! “And they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.” Revelation 12:11 We actually help others overcome when we share our testimony. Greater than any miracle God could produce on this earth is the miracle of salvation. So, let’s share the story of our “miracle,” Beloved! Let’s go! About the author // Robin Halvorson is a part of the Beloved Team. She lives in Roanoke, TX along with her husband, Jordan, two girls, Shiloh & Gabrielle, and her son, Judah. She is a member of New Life Worship and a stay at home mom. With a degree in Communication and Worship Leadership from Oral Roberts University, she was a public speaker for nearly 10 years speaking to students across Texas and the surrounding region about abstinence and bullying.
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Beloved BlogA collection of blog posts from the Beloved Team Archives
August 2019
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