Ten Reasons To Share Your Story

By Hope 360 Founder, Doug Kauffman

The day I shared my story on the Internet it changed my life. When I shared my story I was very transparent in how I felt and what I was going through. People started to contact me and tell me that my story gave them hope. Many wanted to get together to talk further about getting through their hopeless situation.

I want other Christians to experience what I have experienced after sharing my story. God has used it, yes to give others hope but something else happened, it increased my faith and drew me closer to God in the process. It has opened up conversations with many hurting people. It has forced me to be bold about my faith, more than I ever have been. It has stretched me beyond what I ever thought God could do. I want you to experience this as well.

I pray that after reading the “Ten Reasons You Should Share Your Story” that you too will step out and share your story. If you’re afraid, do it afraid.

Doug Kauffman

1. You Are Unique

Only you can offer you. Whatever it is you offer—it is unique—to you. Only you can offer a particular combination of knowledge, skills, talent, personality, and life experiences. Only you can offer the exact combination of information, style of communication, and value that makes you so uniquely you. Know that. Know and accept and relish in your value.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

You are unique! Look at your hand; no one has a handprint like you. There are 8,600,000 possibilities of skin and hair colors. No one can leave a handprint on the earth like yours. Everyone has a story, so don't believe the devil when he tells you that you are not special. God rescued you so you could be a rescuer.

2. You Will Not Be Wasting Your Trial

When I went through tough times in life it became clear to me that God wanted to use it for His Glory and that He did not want me to waste the experience.

"God is in the business of recycling our pain and using it for someone else’s gain.

Now here is what you need to understand: If you don’t turn your adversity into a ministry, then your pain remains your pain. But if you allow God to translate your adversity into a ministry, then your pain becomes someone else’s gain.

No one rolls out the red carpet and invites tragedy into their life, but our greatest gifts and passions are often the byproduct of our worst tragedies and failures. Trials have a way of helping us rediscover our purpose in life."

In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

3. You will Be Obedient

God calls us to step and be bold and have audacious faith. God wants us to draw close to Him and listen to His voice. The impossible becomes possible for you only as you carefully observe and faithfully obey the direction of the Holy Spirit.

God will move in and through your life when you take the first step.

"Extraordinary moves of God begin with ordinary acts of obedience. That singular fact gives you a starting place. It does not matter who you are or what you do for a living. If God lives in you, you have the potential for audacious faith."

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

4. You Will Grow in Your Faith

Every time I would tell someone my story it reminded me of just how far God has carried me. I have had some huge growth moments when helping others navigate through their trials.

"Look for opportunities to share your faith with others and witness for Christ. These are growing experiences. Again, don’t put the cart before the horse. You don’t share your faith to grow spiritually, but you’ll grow as you serve Him."

Building Dynamic Faith by Jerry Falwell

5. You Will Overcome the Enemy

Satan does not want us to share our story of hope. If you don’t turn your adversity into a ministry, your pain remains your pain. But if you allow God to translate your adversity into a ministry, your pain becomes someone else’s gain.

Revelations 12:11 “They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

6. You Could Reach the Unchurched

No one can refute your story because it is your story. People can relate to personal stories and love to hear them because they are relatable. Many people that won't listen to a Preacher or the Bible being quoted will listen to a personal story. Your story could be the only Jesus that someone experiences.

There is no other story just like yours, so only you can share it. If you don’t share it, it will be lost forever. You may not be a Bible scholar, but you are the authority on your life, and it’s hard to argue with personal experience.

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

7. You Will Draw Close to God

You will mature in your faith as you trust God and take hard steps for Him. These two verses meant a lot to me when I went through hard times.

It may be your job to cross over that scary line of telling your story, but it’s God’s job to see you through.

I clung to these 2 verses when I went through tough times.

James 1: 2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. “

8. You Could Be Sharing Light in a Dark Place

You never know what hard things the people around you might be going through. Because of this they might be in a very dark place and need to hear a story of hope that will bring light into their lives. This devotional gave me hope while I went through tough times in my life.

"Light is always costly and comes at the expense of that which produces it. If we will be patient and submissive, it is almost certain we will be a greater blessing to the world around us during our time of suffering and pain than we were when we thought we were doing our greatest work."

Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

9. You Will Go On An Exciting Ride

I had many days where I thought what God was telling me to do was nuts. I was scared but when I trusted in Him He showed up and ministered to me as well as the person I was trying to help.

“We were meant for more than a safe ride when God placed us here. Any part of this life that offers more, requires more, or asks more of us then we are used to is an opportunity to grow more, dream more, and be more than we are now.”

“You may be the only Bible some people ever read. So the question is: Are you a good translation?”

“Today is the first day and last day of your life. It will never be again. When you have that revelation, you number your days. You try to make every day a masterpiece.”

“Live as if Christ was crucified yesterday, rose from the dead today, and is returning tomorrow”

A Trip Around The Sun by Mark Batterson

10. You Will Have an Opportunity to Share the Gospel

Many times when I was telling my story it became a natural transition to start talking about Jesus and the hope that he gives me.

"The idea behind the Hole in Our Gospel is quite simple. It's basically the belief that being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God. It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world."

The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Remember that we should never ask God to bless our plans but instead should ask God to help us fulfill His plans. So as you prepare to put into action what you think God is calling you to do, humbly invite him to guide you to do only what brings Him glory. Continue praying to know His will better.