This is a new series where I am going to share with you what God is placing on my heart and in my mind at the moment. 

 As I'm typing these words right now, I'm not even sure what I want to call it so it is being left untitled for the moment.  When I think about it, "untitled" actually fits with what God has been revealing to me this week.  So often in this big old world, we feel all alone in our struggles when in reality none of us are.

Share your story is what God has laid on my heart and in my mind right now.  Only it might not be the stories that you are familiar with.  Yes, God uses every tragedy in our lives to draw us closer and closer to Him.  We've all felt sickness, death, and hurt in our lives but many of those come in varying degrees.  As I sat and listened to woman after woman share a portion of her story during a recent Women of Faith tour, overwhelming thoughts of my own children's stories came to my mind.  Testimonies of overcoming with the grace of God give us strength, courage, and inspiration to keep on keeping on.  Stories of consequences faced head on as the result of bad choices that have been made. Most of us in the world can relate to these testimonies because we have been there ourselves.  

But what if we can't relate? What if God has spared us from the hold of addictions, depression, teenage pregnancy, abuse, and any other form of darkness that often tries to seize us.  Well, friend, then that is your story!  Praise and Him and share with the world how He has spared you from those tragic events!  

Our stories often become comparisons when each of us has our own unique story to tell.  Maybe I'm wrong but I think those who don't have those tragic stories to tell often doubt how they can help others but God is writing His story in all of us.  I tell my children that their story is encouraging to young people especially that their life doesn't have to be filled with tragedy and consequences of bad choices.  Of course, this doesn't mean they won't make mistakes or have hurts in their lives.  Guaranteed they do and will continue but with their eyes on Jesus, He can save them from so much!  On the other hand, if they do have to follow the school of hard knocks, then my prayer is for them to share how God pulled them through that too!

To my children:  You are not like this post and untitled.  You belong to Jesus Christ so let Him write your story and then share of all the wonders He has done!  

Jeremiah 29:1- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli