Tell Your Story!

By Carl Kimbro, Fellowship Bible Church Celebrate Recovery Devotional Team, 6/10/21

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to the 7 year old daughter of someone who attends Celebrate Recovery. I asked her where her dad was, and she said: “Oh, he is probably sharing the Gospel with someone he just met.” She said it like it was such a common occurrence that he couldn’t possibly be doing anything else. I looked around for him, and he was doing just that! What a great example of principle 8 that man is to his daughter!

Finding the strength and courage to share our faith is not easy. Often times fear gets in the way. We believe others who knew us before recovery will laugh. “Isn’t this the guy who was drunk all the time?” “Isn’t this the women who used drugs?” We may want to share our recovery story with others, but our shameful past can make us think we aren’t worthy to share the good news of Christ.

If you are that person who struggles to share your story, I want to offer some encouragement to you. Your story can do more to help others than you know. There are people we come in contact with everyday who are struggling and feeling hopeless. They can’t imagine freedom from their pain. It doesn’t seem possible to them. But hearing your recovery story can bring them hope. The compassion in your voice as you listen to their struggles and share your own can often be the very thing that starts them on recovery. The past that brings you shame gives you credibility and highlights the power of Christ to change lives. Your story and words or encouragement can be just the thing they needed to start them down the path to recovery. You matter, your life matters, and God can use your story to change lives!

I encourage you to take time next week to share your story with others. Don’t worry about what you will say. Let God provide the words for you. Focus on the life change that has transformed who you are, and show your love and passion for Jesus. If they share their struggles with you as a result of your story, listen and respond with compassion and hope. Don’t try to fix them. But take the opportunity to invite them to Celebrate Recovery. Lean on the confidence that comes from your relationship with Christ (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13) God has used CR to prepare you to share your story. You matter and your story matters. You can and will be the difference in many lives if you are willing to share it.

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