When Sharing Your Testimony Leaves You Feeling Exposed…
With every post I publish, there are two fears that I must first defeat:
- Being called a fool, and
- Mishandling Scripture.
Many Christians publicly display their weaknesses and vulnerabilities on a variety of platforms. We share our testimonies as an offering of proof that Jesus Christ is the only Savior, Healer, Comforter, Teacher, and Lord. I absolutely love writing to encourage others in their walk with God, but if I may be candid, I must admit that it scares me.
As a relatively new Candid Gal and blogger, I find myself obsessed with and validated by the numbers, such as shares, tweets, likes, and comments; however, as a reader, I rarely do any of these things. A post may be so encouraging that I want to stand up and applaud. Others are so true that it’s all I can do to contain a silent tear or a burst of laughter.
Many times, I don’t truly comprehend the impact of a post until days, weeks, or even months later. By then, all that I remember is “I read somewhere that…”, yet the writer’s wisdom comes back to me in perfect timing. Even though I seldom publicly react to a post, every writer on Candidly Christian has impacted my life and my walk with God in ways that you will never know.
God Is Looking For A Few Good Fools
God uses your testimony to shape mine, and so it is with every Christian who shares what He does in their life. Some people may very well call me a fool, but God loves to use the foolish to confound the wise. Jesus promised that those who follow His command to share our testimonies will be acknowledged before God. I imagine Jesus sitting next to the Father, and Jesus pokes God with His elbow and says, “Hey, Dad, have you seen what Valerie has been doing? She just loves Us and wants everyone to know it!” With this image, the fear of appearing a fool fades with renewed faith that God will use my words for His glory.
God uses your testimony to shape mine… even when you think you look like a fool. Share on XRelated Post: What Does the Bible Say About Sharing God’s Word?
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 6:14-16
Related Post: Fighting Fear with Prayer
Jesus Already Fixed Your Mistakes
As a recovering perfectionist, I also fear that I could screw this up and lead someone astray. Freedom from this fear comes with acknowledging and accepting it as an unavoidable reality. I’m not perfect, none of us are, and that’s the very reason we need Jesus every day. He knows my heart is sincere, and I know that He died to wash away my mistakes, so I can stand boldly before the Him and call him “Abba, Father.” When God sees us, He doesn’t see the mess we made; He sees His perfect Son. I am free to offer my testimony as a sacrifice from my heart, free of blemish.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and how correctly handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Trusting God To Use Your Testimony
One of the last commands Jesus gave the disciples before He ascended to the Father was to teach others, and He promised to be with us always. I remember this promise, and many more, with every post I submit. I always send my posts off with a prayer, even when the almighty “submit” button mocks me, daring me to be so bold. God’s purpose goes far beyond likes, shares, comments, or tweets. I know God is faithful to those who serve for His glory, so I rest in the promise that He will use my words for His purpose, in His timing.
To my fellow Candid Gals, and to all Christians who risk self-exposure in Jesus’ name – this post is for you. I pray that you may built up in the knowledge that you serve a God whose reach goes far beyond any social media platform.
How do God's promises help you serve Him better? Share on XSo What About You?
What challenges do you face as you share your testimony?
If you liked this blog post, keep your eyes open for our upcoming book, Candid Conversations, where Heather Hart, the founder of Candidly Christian, has partnered with 25 other Christian women. While each story shares a unique perspective, the prevailing theme is that we all struggle, but there is hope to be found in Jesus. Coming August 13th, 2018. Kindle edition now available for pre-order.
I am with you and AMEN!
I’m glad to have good company, Jessica! Thank you!
Our testimony is what will enable those around us to overcome the enemy: “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelation 12:11
Hello Susan, Thank you for your comment. It’s wonderful to realize that we can empower others to overcome the enemy by sharing our story.
*I’m sorry for my delayed reply. I was off the grid all week.
I want to follow every promise he has for me!
Hello Terri, Thank you for your comment. God’s promises are so powerful and they never fail. I think the only way we can follow His promises is by grace, through prayer. At least I know I can’t do it on my own.
*I’m sorry for my delayed reply. I was off the grid all week.
Oh, the struggles of wrestling with perfectionism! I feel like I could have written part of this myself. Thank you for your transparency and reminding us that God just wants us to do our best, and He’ll take care of the rest!
Hi Jennifer, Thank you for your comments. I’m glad you could relate. I think recovering perfectionists like us need to be reminded of God’s grace every day.
This was so encouraging! I have so many topics God has put on my heart to share but sometimes I get so caught up in wanting to present a flawless case that I lose heart. One topic I wanted to write about has taken 3 months to research so far. But I will trust that if God has placed it in my heart it’s because he trusts I will honor him in my writing of it. ?
Hi Jasmine, Thank you for your comments! I’m so glad that God used this post to encourage you! It’s really easy to get bogged down in the details, that’s for sure. My husband has called me “paralysis by analysis” sometimes. God doesn’t care about flawless; He uses imperfections the most. If you’d ever like to bounce ideas around, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I really hope I get to read this project you are working so hard on.
Hello Valerie! I couldn’t sleep last night after writing my testimony because I’d never shared all my shame and secrets all at one time. I felt very exposed. So I googled “how do you tell your testimony when your life was a difficult one and you feel exposed” and your blog came up. Thank you! God used you to help me so I can use my Testimony to help shape others. I wanted to encourage you as you have encouraged me today.
Wow, Janel! This literally brought me to tears. I continued to struggle with this through breast cancer and now stepping out even more as I lean on Jesus through cognitive issues brought on by the disease. But I do it anyway because I trust God to use my words exactly for women like you. You are the reason I write. And I thank God that He brought you to me and I pray that He’ll continue to encourage you. I’ve written about this topic a lot. A year or two ago, I wrote an open letter to fellow faith bloggers and Heather put it on our Be Our Guest page here. https://candidlychristian.com/about/candid-guests/
I’d be glad to support and encourage you in any way I can. Please reach out to me anytime. Prayers and hugs to you, Janel!
I googled “feeling stupid sharing my testimony as a Christian” and your blog came up.
It is very hard to share your story because it leave you so Vulnerable and dumb, but your post assured me that I’m doing it for God and he will do the rest of the work with it. I love the idea of thinking Jesus nudged God and said “do you see the work Victoria is doing.” I needed that mental image. Gods work is very hard I don’t know how he does it everyday!
Thank you for sharing.
What a great reminder of who God is to us. He is using our story in HIS story to redeem the lives of others just as he redeemed us. It’s about fearing God more than we fear man. It’s about exposing the enemy even at the sake of our own pride. It’s why we feel vulnerable… because we know the wolves that other humans can be. But we are amongst the shepherd and he protects His sheep from the devourer.
HAVE TWO IN HEAVEN AND TWO ON EARTH
Hi my name is Aneesa, I am 30 years old and this is my story.
At the age of 25 I was diagnosed with PCOS. I was newly married at that time and really wanted to start a family of my own. Doctors told me that I would not be able to conceive or may take years to even have a baby. But I didn’t lose hope, with prayer and believing in God word .i f ell pregnant within 5 months after my diagnose. I was so excited that joy filled my heart. I was over the moon; this is it I going to be a mum those little kicks and rolls are memories to last a lifetime. The nightmare began when I was 23 weeks pregnant, I woke up that morning to heavy bleeding, I rushed to hospital only to be told ,I’m so sorry mum but you are having a threatened miscarriage and there is nothing we can do to save the baby. My heart stopped I cried out to God why me.? Why is this happening …sitting in hospital in fear not knowing what to expect having heavy extreme pains.. the pains kept coming and going. The pain only got worse as time was going. I screamed for the nurse. At 1 o clock in the morning on the 23rd of May 2018 I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl, so little and peaceful I held her in my arms.those tiny fingers and toes. Not being able to take her home. I didn’t know what to even feel.its as if I was stuck in a bad dream.After I dosed off and when I got up reality hit me. I was going home with emptiness .. depression creeped in slowly.i was rushed back to hospital as my pressure shot extremely high going through anxiety see of my loss. Few days later I began to cry and pray falling down on my knees just so hopelessly . I said to God please I know you not done with me… please show me..u said we shall dream dreams and see visions. I had a vision of a little boy just borned in a green cloth. That day God touched me in such a powerful way. I encouraged and opened up about my miscarriage. I prayed and I trusted God. Because I knew he wasn’t done with me yet. .. I read scriptures from the bible daily and I declared I was going to have another baby. God, you did it for Sarah, Elizabeth and Hannah, give me a baby and I will give back to just like Hannah did.
God, you said in your word “worship the Lord your God and he will bless your food and water and he will take away sickness amongst you, non will miscarry or be barren in the land” the fruit of the womb is but a reward. You said we should ask in your name.
Wonderful news 20 October 2018 . I fell sick and decided to take a pregnancy test, I could not believe my eyes ,joy and fear with my hands shaking, the test was positive.
God never seems to fail. A miracle working God.
I took my pregnancy 1 day at a time. I was afraid of losing another baby, but I pushed it out fear with faith.
6 months through my pregnancy I started to bleed late that night. Rushed to hospital has I entered that room I said “devil you are not going to take another child from me”. I command you to leave. God I will carry this baby full term nine months im not going to give up I came so far to lose another baby. Doctors told me I had a low placenta the bleeding stop next day as I was on bed rest. The 3rd day I went back to hospital, and I was completely fine my placenta was well positioned and I was fine no bleeding doctors were very surprised on how this happened.
With God’s grace I carried my baby full term nine months and my little rainbow baby was born on the 14th of July 2019 at 16:00 he was exactly like the vision God gave me. I name him Zion Ezekiel Mahomed
In 2021 I had fell pregnant again and the same thing that had happened to me in 2018 happen to me yet again . at 21 weeks I lost another baby. I was devastated and broken. The fear of going through that tragedy again. I stood behind the gate I told my partner I’m so sorry but we losing the baby with tears rolling down my face.i felt as if something was wrong with me. As if this was all my fault due to my body situation. on the 28th of July at 11:30 I have birth to my baby boy.i carried him with a smile on my face kissed him goodbye .i gained another little angel. this time I was more stronger because I knew what to expect .. but having Zion at home… Kept me going.
I been listening to the word and Micheal todd had inspired me to write down things that I want God to work in my life.
I had written down in a little book and declared in 2023 I will have a healthy baby girl,
I wasn’t giving up. My God is a miracle working God
2022 I fell pregnant unexpectedly I feel pregnant in May. I took my pregnancy one day at a time and I was told to do a cerclage stitch to help me carry my baby full term. I had a healthy amazing pregnancy.
2 February 2023 I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Daniella Esther Moonsamy
I hope my stories touches other. Sometimes we wonder why certain things happen to us. Not realizing many women go through the same thing. God wants us to turn to him with all our heart. Having faith, the size of a mustard seed really can move mountains.
I always asked God to use me, but I didn’t realize my pain and what the enemy meant for evil God turned it into something good.
I always meet women everywhere I go that go through miscarriages and well not everyone knows how to deal with it. It breaks m y heart when I hear people lost their babies.. you won’t know how it feels until you go through it.no matter how many years may pass those little lives we carry and give birth to will always be apart of us. But the God that I serve he turned my nightmare into a beautiful blessing I may have lost 2 babies, but he blessed me with another 2 which I can’t imagine my life without them.
God blessed me with 2 babies in heaven and 2 babies on earth.
Because if it had not been for losing those kids my 2 miracle rainbow babies would not have been here today.
I hope I touch someone’s heart.
My situation broke me but God made me strong. That I can stand up and encourage other women. Never give up. If he said it.. he wil do it.. when he died on that cross he said. It is done.
Never give up, God promised us and died on the cross for our sins. By his stripes we are healed.
Doctors may say things that can bring your faith down , they can make it seem like your life is over .but God never fails his children.
God never lets our tears go in vain. He wants us to draw close to him and to trust in him.
Faith will take you a long way.
I never opened up to people but 1 year 7 months after giving birth to my daughter
I had a little issue were my inside got ripped apart my nerve and muscle stop function in my rectum.
I had a colostomy bag put on
I still remem an Indian nurse say to me, sis u stink , I wasn’t mobile and
she pulled me out the bed by force and told me I need to start walking.
She looked at me with disgust and told me my life wil never be normal I wil even feel so filthy to go out.
I cried my heart out that day were the patient cried and comforted me. I almost went into depression,
I told my partner to lev me I felt like dying. But the only thing that kept me was GOD, I’m alive my kids are healthy and well.
I lost 2 kids and these babies I brought into the world how can I lev them without a mom.
Despite what my body went through id do anything for my children.
I walked my situation for more than a year , I kept clean , I dressed well I never smelled.
No one even knew about my bag.
My drama is almost over. Im coming to the end , before I even go into theatre I trust God.
I know all is well. I believe my trail and pain is to inspire others.
One thing I know he made me a strong woman.
Today I pray for that I nurse and I wish to tell her I made it.
Thanks for sharing your testimony with us.
This is a sharp and intellectually stimulating analysis that brilliantly deconstructs the ‘theological architecture’ of the divine promise and the critical importance of personal testimony in the life of a believer. I particularly appreciate the way the blog highlights how the act of remembering God’s faithfulness serves as a vital bridge between the abstract uncertainty of current trials and a profound, lived experience of spiritual assurance—it’s a powerful reminder that the most resonant faith environments are those that prioritize vulnerability, scriptural grounding, and the strategic reclamation of hope through shared storytelling. The insight into how these testimonies function as both a practical toolkit for the weary soul and a sophisticated roadmap for navigating the complexities of modern discipleship is a fantastic and deeply moving observation. Thank you for sharing such a clear and focused perspective on the intersection of providence, perseverance, and the trusting heart!