The Comfort in My Story

Yesterday, I spoke on the Gift of a Child at Cowboy Country Church in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.  I shared with the congregation all of the things that my child given up for adoption has given me, as well as others whom she never knew.  I sat in my seat before going up, suddenly second-guessing myself.  "Does this matter to anyone?  Does this contribute to anyone's spiritual life?"  But, it was too late to back out.  The talk will be on the Internet soon, so you can hear it, but what amazed me was hearing how many people were touched by hearing someone else's story of pain and spiritual growth. 

II Corinthians 1:3-6 says:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.  Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer.  Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."

Transparency is what makes us real.  Our weaknesses show the strength of God.  We all have things in our past we would rather people didn't know, whether strangers or our children.  Perfect people don't inspire people to come to Christ; forgiven, empowered people inspire people to come to salvation.  Do you have to share every gory detail with everyone on earth?  No.  But, sometime, one story could change someone's life. 

"I am not my own, for I am bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." I Corinthians 6:20.

My story is not mine, any more than my life is.  It is now His.  And if it can bring comfort or conviction to anyone, then it is His property, not mine.