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You Never Know!

Blog – 9-12-19 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will  reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  (Galatians 6:9 (NLT) “Your story changed my life!” she blurted out with excitement as she greeted me after my concert in Arizona Monday night. There were tears of joy as she shared how her husband had gotten home from treatment the day of my concert at the same church last year. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do with him when he walked through the door, she told me through teary eyes, because there was betrayal on multiple levels, tons of anger, and overwhelming uncertainty. The life they had built, which included five beautiful children, seemed to be over. God somehow got both of them to my concert that night, which was a miracle in itself! As I shared my own story, the good, the bad, and the ugly, she said she saw herself in so many pieces of it.  She told me that something in her spirit stirred as she listened to me share, and she knew in the depths of her soul that God wanted her to fight to redeem her marriage. Her husband couldn’t believe it when she told him after the concert that she wanted him to come home and work on their marriage.  They have worked extremely hard at rebuilding it. It hasn’t been easy, but through the grace of God, they have survived. And thrived! She says their marriage has never been better. Those are the kind of miracles that happen when we share our stories. When we are honest about our struggles and open about our own pain, God uses it in mighty ways. Jesus modeled this for us as He taught in stories throughout the Bible. His parables are beautiful illustrations of God at work in everyday lives. I know some of your stories are hard. Some of them aren’t very pretty. Some of them have disappointing endings. Some of them are playing out in ways right now that you wish were different.  Can I encourage you, my friend, I understand. I’ve been there. I’m there in certain areas of my life right now. I wish, like you, that life was a little easier. But I also know that God is using your story to strengthen your faith. And if you have the courage to share your story, you never know what kind of impact it can have!  I’m not saying you have to share your story from a stage, but what about your co-worker who is going through a hard time? What about your neighbor who is struggling to start her life over? What about that person at church who you know is hiding a mountain of pain behind their smile?  What if you could be brave and share your personal journey of how God worked in your life? What if you could share your story in order to encourage them and give them hope?  That’s where miracles happen, and that’s where we can reap the harvest of blessings at just the right time! You may not see the blessing right away, but trust that seeds have been planted and God will reward your faithfulness. I thank God that I had the opportunity to hear from this sweet sister in Christ. I love witnessing God in action when we are simply faithful. And by the way, I was booked very last-minute for the concert this year, but somehow it worked for me to go. Oh, God is SO good!  So be brave. Share your story. Let God use the hard things, the painful, the broken pieces, the beautiful moments and the tragic, to touch others.  You never know how you can impact the world for Christ! Hugs and love, Jill

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