Test to Testimony
Believe it or not, you have a story to tell. You do not have to be a world-renowned speaker or have a massive following on social media. You have to be faithful to the platform God has given you.
God is looking for willing and obedient people ready to share their testimonies. God does not just use people with influence. Sometimes, He uses people who the world sees as low-ranking to accomplish great things.
One thing I have noticed about who God called to a great mission in the Bible is that they went through tests and have a story to share because of them. Look at some of these tests to testimonies:
Abraham was told to sacrifice his son Isaac before he began his mission to be the father of many nations.
Noah endured over a hundred years of being made fun of before he got on the ark.
Moses murdered an Egyptian and then talked to God about his weaknesses before he led the Israelites out of Egypt.
Joseph was thrown in a pit, lied about, and forgotten before he became second in command.
Gideon was fearful before he led an army of three hundred men to defeat thousands.
Jeremiah was young, and God used him to speak to an entire nation.
Mary endured pregnancy, traveling through rough roads to Bethlehem only to find no room at an inn until she delivered baby Jesus.
Peter denied Jesus and had to be restored before God used him to preach to thousands at Pentecost.
The amazing thing is I could continue listing many Bible test-to-testimony stories. But it does not stop there. Think about the amazing Christian leaders who have come and gone. It is amazing to read stories of how they overcame imperfections. Christian authors, musicians, movie stars, etc., used their imperfections as part of their stories.
Only Jesus and His grace can use imperfection to testify how everyone can be made right with a perfect God.
Where do you begin with using your test as a testimony?
Start by being honest about what you see.
When I was nine years old, I lost my hair. Could God have healed me? Yes! He is God. But, as I write this blog, I still have not been cured of alopecia. I was told there is no known cause or cure for what I have. While man may not heal my condition, I know God can.
But I believe we have a better faith story to tell when we are not healed. Do not get me wrong, not being cured of alopecia and having to endure bullying and laughter from others hurts. I am just being honest with what I see. Looking back on the past years, I would not change my condition for the world. I have been told there are now potential cures, but I refuse to try because I view my story now as a testimony to the fact that you can still have faith in God even when you are not cured or God does not perform the miracle you believe He can.
I am not perfect, and I have had many angry moments with God. But to use your test as a testimony, you start by being honest about what you see.
Next, you realize Jesus is all you need and are faithful to the platform He gave you.
There are many stories in the Bible where Jesus does not heal or cure people. Paul wanted healing, and Jesus responded, “My grace is enough” (2 Corinthians 12:9). What if Jesus did not heal you? Yes, it would be frustrating to hear that because you know God can do all things. But are you faithful enough to hear a “no” from God and still obey Him?
Your faithfulness to go through a test and use it as testimony demonstrates obedience to the God who gave you a mission. Don’t miss what God is doing in your life and the people you can impact through your message by focusing on your uncured situation or condition. Sometimes, a “no” from God will have a more significant impact than you ever thought.
When God was preparing to return to the Father in Acts 1, He promised to send His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit goes with us and gives us the power to speak and share God's faithfulness (Acts 1:8). If you are afraid to share your story, know that the Holy Spirit is with you. If the Holy Spirit can be with Peter and give the man who denied Jesus three times the strength to speak to thousands of people about the Gospel, then the Holy Spirit can be with you.
Hard times can either define or destroy us. This blog post is meant to encourage you in that your struggles are an opportunity to show others that no matter what life throws at you, you find comfort in the God who is in control. You can show the world that the test will not destroy you. Instead, you will use it to testify to the God who has you in His hands.