One of my daughter’s favorite thing to do is to ask for stories about Poppa. Since she never met my dad, but she knows that he looms large in my life, she loves to hear tales about who he was and the impact he had. From silly stories about how he broke his arm (twice) to more serious ones about how the organization he worked at gives an annual leadership award in his honor, she loves learning about the man and the father that he was.
It’s providential that my daughter has such an inquisitive nature because I have a lot to share about my father, in part because he was a natural storyteller. He loved to regale us with anecdotes of his adventures or with episodes from his past. While I am not inclined to openly share like my dad did, I have learned from him, and from many others that stories can be powerful instruments for sharing God’s truth and love. When we tell people about how God has worked in our lives, God can use what we recount to draw others to Him.
There are at least three types of tales that we should be eager and ready to share:
- Tales of God’s faithfulness – As I have written before, one of my favorite things about the Psalms is how often the authors commanded the Israelites to remember how God faithfully provided for them for generations upon generations. If the Israelites were to recall these episodes from the past, someone had to tell them about them – either in written form or verbally. We, too, should be quick to share how we have experienced God’s faithfulness and provision. These accounts can encourage others during difficult times and can provide comfort to us when we are not sure where God is leading and directing us. When we remember how God has provided in the past, we are more apt to trust Him with our future. And when we share the reports of how God has been faithful to us, we can encourage others to trust Him with their future as well.
- Tales of God’s kindness – All of us have, at some time or another, experienced God’s mercy and grace. If we are a Christian, the most obvious example of this is the redemption that we were offered by His Son’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. But we experience God’s kindness in many other ways as well. I remember distinctly a time when, against all odds, I had clear traffic while I was running late. If you have driven the California freeways you know what a profound experience of God’s kindness this is. We have also likely experienced God’s generosity to us in more dramatic ways. Whether it was the fact that God used us to bring a lost sinner to repentance and faith, or He healed a loved one despite a tragic diagnosis, God is abundantly kind to His kids. We share these stories to remind us, and others, to praise His goodness and love.
- Tales of how God used others – Some of my favorite stories to hear are the stories of how God used other people to accomplish His plans. This could be the tale of how a mother faithfully prayed for her son and saw the fruition of those prayers many years later. Or an account of how God provided just the right person to bring an encouraging word during a difficult time. Stories of how God has used others in our lives reminds us not only of the kindness of God, but of the love that we have experienced from His people. Additionally, when we share how God has used others to aid us in our growth and sanctification it reminds those that we are sharing with that God desires to use them in the lives of others as well. When we hear how someone’s faithful service blessed another, we are more inclined to faithfully serve. When we are told of how God used the sacrifice that another made, we are more likely to make a similar sacrifice for the good of His saints. Let us be quick to share how God has used others in our lives. Not only does it rightly honor their service to us, but it may prompt the listener to serve others as well.
It’s fun to tell stories about vacation or great adventures, and we are all-too-eager to share about the inconveniences and disappointments that we experience during the day. May we more quickly tell the tales of how we have experienced God’s faithfulness and kindness, and how He has used the lives, words, and sacrifices of others to draw us closer to Him. These are the types of stories that not only can be a difference in this life, but that God can use to make an impact for eternity.
