When you’ve grown up in a Christian household surrounded by that kind of community, you might struggle with the thoughts of, “What next? Where do I go from here?”

There’s often a feeling of being stuck with thoughts like, “Nothing’s new anymore” and “I’ve heard this before” and “Who is this faith for: my family or for me?”

Sometimes I’ve wondered, “What would it be like if I didn’t grow up in a Christian household? Would that make my faith more genuine, newer, more exciting?”

But we often forget that the testimonies of those who only came to Christ recently and the testimonies of those who have been walking with Christ for ages are both so important to the Christian faith.

At my youth group there’s a wide variety of stories in the junior and senior girls’ group. Some girls have only been Christians for a few months and are still learning or who have been through so much on their faith journey, while others grew up encouraged by parents and mentors in their faith.

As the latter were saying, “I feel like my testimony is so boring,” the other girls were saying, “I am so encouraged by your testimony.”

The Church would not be what it is if we only had ‘boring’ testimonies, or if we only had ‘moving’ testimonies. From both sides, we can learn so much.

In the Bible, we read stories like Noah’s, Moses’ or David’s—likely growing up in a God-fearing household. It was tradition but also genuine faith that would lead them all to become some of the most well-known historical figures in the Bible.

Or we can read stories like Rahab’s, Saul-turned-Paul’s, or the centurion who watched Jesus’ death. They all likely heard of this faith but until their time came, it wasn’t a full part of their life. But once encountered by the Lord, their live story became a testimony of the Lord’s goodness.

There’s more to our stories than meets the eye. There’s no such thing as a ‘boring’ testimony, because we can still see the astounding ways the Lord works in each person’s account.

Whether or not you would consider your testimony ‘boring,’ share something amazing that God has done in your life—and before you say, “He’s never done something amazing,” then you’re probably looking at your story the wrong way.

The home you’re placed in? The friends you have? The medical miracle? The way you stayed with Him, even through the hard times?

Those are all life-changing miracles and blessings.

We’re in the middle of spring (although for me it feels like summer thanks to the high-seventies and eighty-degree weather) and spring is often associated with the theme of ‘new.’ Look at the baby animals, new flowers and foliage, fresh weather, and new loss of smell due to allergies.

It’s often hard to approach God with the acceptance of ‘new,’ isn’t it? Especially with open hands—saying yes to the new instead of holding on to what we know is not something we typically go along with willingly.

But whatever your testimony looks like, ‘new’ is what comes with life. As often as we think our testimonies are nothing similar, we forget that as Christians we are a part of one family that bears one another’s burdens, prays for one another, and holds one another accountable.

While no testimony is the same (and praise God for that!) we all can find empathy because we all go through the hard seasons of ‘new’ and ‘goodbye.’

As we enter into a new week (and a new month on Friday) I encourage you to think of the ways you might connect with others who might be entering a season of ‘new.’

Maybe they are leaving a person—and life without that person is a whole lot of new. Maybe they are leaving a home—and saying goodbye to a home is not only new but overwhelming with the feeling of strangeness in all aspects.
Maybe they are leaving a situation—and leaving an old situation to go into a new situation is full of busy, swarming emotions.

There’s a comfort in knowing that someone is there beside you in that season of newness and unfamiliarity, and to know that you can be that person is a blessing!

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13 NIV

Think about how your testimony provides a new comfort into someone’s life—whether it might seem ‘boring’ or not, the impact you’ll have on them could be more than you’ll ever know.

The people I love the most are the ones who have had the greatest impact on my life, and none of our testimonies are the same. They’re the ones who listen to me, who cry with me, and who have compassion on me in my weakest moments.

Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
Psalms 66:16-20 NIV

This verse talks about how sharing the ways the Lord has worked is so important. It’s not by our testimonies that He works, though. It’s by the Lord’s grace. (Romans 9:16)

How can you glorify the Lord with your testimony today?

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!
~Willow