“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.”- Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
“Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at [Jesus’] feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.”- Luke 8:47 (NIV)
In Chapter 9 (“Speaking Up When You Tend to Clam Up”) of When You Don’t Like Your Story, Sharon Jaynes stresses God’s ability to redeem the bad parts of our stories. Hence, when we trust Him with our painful pages, He exchanges them for a story of triumph. But, this process requires our cooperation.
Yet, Sharon observes, God never pries these stories from our clenched fists, thus forcing us to tell them. Rather, He woos us into making the exchange. Because the only way to obtain true freedom and full healing involves allowing God to turn our pain into purpose.
Jesus mastered the art of not allowing those He made whole to skip away with an untold story. The woman bleeding for twelve years serves as a prime example. Jesus knew who touched his clothes. However, Jesus asked the question because He wanted the crowd to know. Above all, He wanted the woman to tell her story to the entire crowd.
Also, Sharon notes, telling your secret story might not be as hard as you believe. Because people respect vulnerability, transparency, and honesty. Therefore, Sharon counsels:
“But here’s the truth: If you listen to the wrong voice, you will make the wrong choice. The devil . . . knows that your willingness to place your story in God’s holy hands will lead to full redemption, where, in the words of Beth Moore, “the pain is treated and turned around so thoroughly that it not only loses its power to do you harm, but also gains the power to do some good.”
In conclusion, Sharon underscores, you never know when the opportunity presents itself for you to tell your story. Or when that small investment multiplies in another’s heart.
Today’s question: Are you bearing an untold story inside of you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Merely eclipsed for a moment”
