Never Give Up: Hostage – the Story We Tell OurselvesSample

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Day 1 - The Stories That Hold Us Hostage

Joseph in the Pit
Joseph’s life took a devastating turn when his brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery. His dream, his favor, and his future seemed destroyed in an instant. But that pit wasn’t the end—it was the beginning of a story that God would redeem for good. Joseph could have stayed mentally imprisoned by betrayal, but he chose to believe God was still at work.

My Story: The Lie I Lived In

Some stories we’re told. Others we live. But the most powerful stories—the ones that shape how we see the world—are the ones we tell ourselves. For years, my internal narrative was one of fear, rejection, and hiding. I believed that life was unsafe, people couldn’t be trusted, and I wasn’t wanted.

When I was eight years old, life was chaotic. Our home life was unstable, and our babysitter had just been kicked out. My mom, once again, had to scramble to find someone to help with me and my sister Melanie. Enter Amelia—a new live-in babysitter who didn’t speak English but worked hard and genuinely cared for our family. At the time, I didn’t think much of her. I had learned not to get too close to adults. In my short life, too many had hurt, ignored, or overlooked me.

One weekend, while playing hide-and-seek, I decided to scale a huge oak tree. I climbed higher and higher, convinced I’d found the perfect hiding place. When my friend Scott spotted me, he climbed the tree to tag me. Trapped and with nowhere to run, I attempted a quick escape—just like Spiderman.

But I wasn’t Spiderman. I fell.

I landed headfirst and instinctively reached out to brace my fall, shattering both wrists on impact. The pain was unbearable. But I tried to hide it. That’s what I’d always done—hide my hurt. When Scott tagged me, he didn’t even realize I was badly injured. I couldn’t grip my bike handlebars. He had to push the bike home for me.

When I got back, Robin and Amelia jumped into action. They laid me down, tried to realign my wrists, and caused even more pain. I screamed. I ran. I hid in my room and waited for my mom to come home. Eventually, she took me to the hospital. I left with two casts and a pain prescription—but the deeper pain wasn’t from the fall.

The real wound was the belief that I had to hide my pain, tough it out, and go through it alone. That day wasn’t just about broken bones. It confirmed the lie I already believed: you’re on your own, Jere.

Devotional Reflection

We all have internal stories—narratives born out of pain, disappointment, or trauma. They become scripts that play in our heads, sometimes so often we don’t even realize they’re there.

Maybe your story says:

• “I’m not enough.”
• “I deserve this pain.”
• “No one stays.”
• “It’s safer not to feel.”

But those stories are not the truth. And they’re not how your story has to end.

Joseph could have believed he was abandoned, forgotten, and worthless. But he clung to a different truth. Even when betrayed, enslaved, and imprisoned, he trusted that God had a purpose for his life. And eventually, the pit gave way to a palace.

The same can happen for you. You don’t have to stay hostage to the narrative pain has written in your mind. God has a different script. A better one.

You are not the product of your worst moment. You are not what others have done to you. You are not the names they called you or the abuse you endured. You are loved. You are chosen. You are seen. And you are not alone.

Action Step

Take a few quiet minutes today. Write down one false story you've believed about yourself—something shaped by pain or fear. Then beside it, write a truth from God’s Word that refutes that lie. Tape it to your mirror. Read it daily. Choose the truth—even if your feelings haven't caught up yet.

Reflection Questions

1. What painful moment in your past continues to shape the story you tell yourself today?
2. How would your life be different if you believed what God says about you instead?
3. What truth do you need to declare over your life right now?