Speak up, I can’t hear you!

This week I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of young girls (13-16yrs of age) who have been trafficked in some form. As I was sitting in the room sharing my Braveheart Story, I was reminded of the scripture, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony…” Revelation 12:11NASB

It took me over ten years to be okay with sharing my testimony. I was ashamed, and I was worried about how people would feel about me or view me. In a sense, I felt guilty too. I went through a stage in my life where I just wanted to start doing right and act as if my past never happened. If I didn’t talk about my past, then I wouldn’t have to feel those negative emotions.

But, truth be told, I am a product of my past. I am who I am today, because of what I went through. The good and all the bad have made me into the person who God has created me to be. I say all of this to say, embrace your moments of struggles because they will produce moments of strength. My strength to tell my Braveheart story came from embracing the life that I lived. I wouldn’t have found my strength if I hadn’t embraced my weaknesses.

The devil will try and keep you from talking because he knows that if he can keep you quiet, you can’t help others. Jesus has provided a way out of our mess, a way for our healing, and a way to help others. Life is not all about “YOU,” God created “YOU” to help others.

If I had kept my mouth shut, I wouldn’t have been able to speak to those young girls or other people who I have helped along the way. I wouldn’t have been able to give encouragement, give hope, or give love to anyone. The process of overcoming never comes easy and without a fight. In a boxing or UFC match, you have to fight to win, but the victory comes to the one who fights, gives it their all, perseveres through, and conquers.

I had to come to grips that God loves me unconditionally, and there is nothing that I could do to change that. God used Rahab; a prostitute, he used Moses; a murderer, Paul; a Christian murderer, David; a cheater, Noah; a drunk, and the list could go on and on. But, the one thing that remains is God’s love for us and who He created us to be.
Know your worth; know that God created you just the way you are. He even thought about us in our mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). He knows the number of hairs we have on our head (Luke 12:7). I say this with a passion because I want you to know that you are created to be something special whether you believe it or not. You were created with a purpose in mind. He created you to be you!

So, the next time you think that you are not good enough, think again because you are! Your past does not determine who you are. You determine who you are by doing something with your past. We all make mistakes in life, but guess what?! God gives us chances to get it right.

Embrace your story, because there is only one of you who can write your story the best!