Lighting Up Our City: Week 3-Connecting Through Your Story Sample

Good stories reveal personal vulnerability that demonstrates our need for Christ.

It can be utterly terrifying to feel weak and powerless, to feel like you’re inferior to others who are so much stronger. To be caught in a moment where you knowingly fail to do what’s right and feel awful about it later. It’s understandable that we don’t want to remember those times, and we certainly don’t want to talk about them. We’d much rather be the strong hero who swoops in to save the day.

But the Apostle Paul brings another perspective to our weaknesses. Rather than bringing shame, our weaknesses can be a means of displaying God’s power and glory.

Our weaknesses give us a point of connection with others. We’ve all felt scared, lonely, sad, ashamed, angry, stressed… However, through later reflection, we can see how God was with us, helped us, enabled us to process what happened, and even brought good out of bad situations. Our weaknesses remind us how much we need our loving and powerful God.

It requires so much trust to share our weaknesses with others. But I’ve discovered that vulnerability encourages vulnerability. Sharing our struggles with someone tells them it’s safe to be open with theirs. It shows them you understand and won’t condemn them for their imperfections.

When you’re praying about how and which parts of your story to share, ask God for the courage to be vulnerable.

How have you seen God’s power in your weaknesses? How can that part of your story help others?

By Jenny Fulton