Have you ever heard a testimony at church and thought, “Why can’t my testimony be like that?”

I certainly have. Around four years ago, I remember hearing one testimony about a woman who was a Christian and then left the faith after her husband died. After a few years, she came back to the faith and decided to get re-baptized.

Recently, another teenage girl, whose family is not at all involved in Christianity, started coming to youth group because of a friend from her dance school. A few months later, she got baptized and has been coming to church and youth group by herself, even though it’s not something her family believes in.

I’ve always seen these stories and wondered, “My testimony isn’t nearly as interesting as that. Why would anyone want to hear my story?”

Well, this is a really intrusive thought. If you believe that your testimony isn’t enough, I want you to say, “Nah, my testimony is amazing. It matters just as much as his and hers and theirs and everyone else’s. God is using my life for good, and that is incredible in itself.”

Everybody’s story is different, everyone’s faith journey is different.

Your testimony does not determine your faith.

Say you grew up in a Christian household and you’ve always been a Christian. You might be on fire for Jesus, and I love that!

Now, say you have a friend who didn’t grow up in a Christian household, only has one Christian friend (that’s you!), and recently became a Christian and they are also on fire for Jesus.

Just because this faith is newer to them does not mean that their faith is stronger or better or more important. And just because you’ve had experience with this belief and grew up around it doesn’t mean that your faith is stronger or better or more important.

And it doesn’t mean that your or their faith is less important or good or strong either.

Faith is never a race.

Now, if you’ve read 2 Timothy 4:7-8, you might be like, “Well, sure it is!”

I don’t mean it in that way. I mean that faith is not a competition—you and your friends are not racing to see who can get a better Bible app streak or more verses memorized or a ‘better’ faith. That’s not how it’s supposed to be!

Our faith is a communal thing—that’s where the correct meaning of 2 Timothy 4:7-8 comes in!

If you are in a running race, you want to get to the finish line. Your goal isn’t typically to win, just to finish. And say you have a friend running with you. Are you going to leave them behind? No, of course not. (At least I hope not!) You’ll stay with them, you’ll help them, you’ll carry their burden too, which is running the race. And they will do the same for you.

So in conclusion?

Your faith is not a race—it’s a journey. And your testimony matters. Just because someone’s story is ‘more inspirational’ doesn’t mean that yours won’t touch someone else’s heart.

‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. ‘
2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV

I’d love to hear your testimony in the comments, if you feel comfortable sharing it! I’ll be making a post with my own testimony in a few days related to this.

Thanks for reading! Have a great week. 🙃
~Willow <3