Sister, do you know that your story - whatever that looks like - is meant to be a vital component of your God given calling or dream?
While your passions and talents definitely play a role, it's your story that holds the real power to change lives. Yet so often, we dismiss, devalue, or overlook our own story - all the while asking God to deliver a fresh new dream. Meanwhile, what He really wants is for us to serve others just like ourselves.
So how do you know if God is calling you to share your story? In today's episode, I'm going to share 3 simple, out-of-the-box ways to answer that very question - stemming from my own walk with Jesus. Let's get you one giant step closer to your dream, sister!
Show Notes:
Intro
Hey there, friend. Welcome to today’s episode. I love doing episodes on God given dreams because this is a huge part of my journey the past few years. And going into this year, 2022, God has pressed upon me that He has this desire for me to really, truly dream with Him like I’ve never done before.
And I think one of the most empowering things a Christian woman can have is a clear sense of her God given calling. God has a dream and purpose for each and every one of us. And while it can take some work to discover or unearth it, it’s such an amazing and rewarding experience.
And it does take some work on our part. A lot of times, it requires getting in touch with things that have been long forgotten or abandoned. Activities we like to do, passions, how we’re wired (or how God created us). And coming back to those things, or discovering them for the first time, is so gratifying, and fun, and like coming home. Things feel aligned and joyous.
But this is just part of discovering our God given calling or dream. Because there’s the how - which involves our passions, and talents, and who we are. And there’s the who - who God is specifically calling us to serve. And typically, He’s calling us to serve people that are going through things we have already gone through ourselves. Who are walking the journey we’ve already walked. Because we’re in a position to help them.
We’ve been there; we’ve done that. Good or bad. We know what it entails; what the struggles are; what it’s like to live through it emotionally, mentally, logistically; we understand what other people taking that same (or similar) journey are going through. What they need. And we can help them get through it more equipped than we did. ‘Cause we’ve gone before them.
For example, I’m called to serve Christian women who want to become stronger and more empowered. Ladies who have this desire to become a more powerful and confident woman, rooted in Jesus and their relationship with God, but don’t know how to get there. They need help to grow into that woman. They need help getting past the hurdles and challenges that they face.
This is a journey that God has taken me on personally. I was that woman. And now God is calling me to take my experience, my story - combined with my talents and passions - and serve other women in that way.
But without my story, I wouldn’t be serving effectively. I wouldn’t be earning trust, or connecting authentically, or giving testimony to God’s glory and character - or being a true example of how you really can go from Point A to Point Z. (And beyond.)
Our stories are so immensely powerful. Stories in general are powerful. It’s just part of human nature. When we hear someone else’s story, we can connect to it. We learn that we’ve lived through or experienced similar things; that there is triumph over adversity; that we’re not alone in our experiences; that others have reacted or struggled as we have; that God has worked for the good of others in similar situations. It just helps on so many levels.
So if you’re in the process of figuring out what your God given calling or dream is…your story, whatever that is, is most likely going to be a key component.
But how can you tell for sure, right? How can you know if God is calling you in a way that includes your journey? And how do you know which part? Because maybe there’s several seasons or journeys from your life that could be used by God.
So, in true Jenn fashion, I’m going to approach this from a different angle. Because that was my experience. Through clarity work, I was able to reconnect with my love and passion for creativity and how God created me for that. But when it came to my story…God actually began bringing that to light several years before I did the clarity work - which was in response to His call for me to change Relate Escape into what it is today. And to start this podcast.
See, here’s the funny thing with our stories…they can be tied to our sense of self-worth. Or the value we place on ourselves. Which can be plentiful or kinda stingy or low, right? And so if we don’t think much of ourselves, and we don’t believe that what we’re walking out in life (even with Jesus), or overcoming, is all that important…we greatly diminish the value of our own story.
And then what happens? We start chasing our God given calling and dream, trying to figure out what we’re meant to do and who we’re supposed to serve, all the while basically ignoring what’s right in front of us. Because we’ve been dismissing it. Or we’ve forgotten it. And so we keep searching for this new calling or purpose or dream…waiting for something big to fall from the sky…and then get frustrated when it doesn’t.
So while other podcasts and dream resources will share some very legit and helpful information for uncovering your God given dream…I’m going to offer you a two-for-one deal. I’m going to give you three tips to help determine if your story is part of your calling - but these tips are also going to help you remove some junk that may be present. And you’ll see what I mean by that here in just a minute.
So let me set this up for you before we dive in. We’ve already established that your story is immensely powerful, right? It shows God’s glory, gives hope and help to others, and all the things.
Well, here’s another important thing: Satan - who is always prowling around looking for what he can steal, kill, and destroy - is not going to want you to share your story. He doesn’t want you to empower other women (or men). He doesn’t want you to share your story and reveal the goodness and glory of God no matter what you’ve walked through. He doesn’t want you to help others get unstuck or find hope or solutions or a way forward.
And this was what happened to me. There were three ideas that I had bought into so strongly, that I was (unbeknownst to me at the time) holding myself back from my God given calling. I look back and I think, “My calling was staring me in the face - and I totally did not see it.”
I had believed these ideas so strongly, in fact, that God had to send me a clear message to get my attention and then continue to work on them. ‘Cause they were that entrenched.
Now, I’ve mentioned this in other episodes, but God will often talk to me through movies, books, and other creative mediums. Whether Christian or secular.
Well, one night, several years ago, again before God had given me His mission for Relate Escape, I was watching the movie The Age of Adelaide starring Blake Lively. It was probably one of those nights where I was just looking for something to watch and I think it was included as part of Amazon Prime at the time.
Now, if you’ve never seen the movie, the main character, Adelaide (played by Blake Lively) is born at the turn of the 20th century. At the age of 29, she has a car accident that, coupled with some unique conditions, stops her biological clock essentially. In other words, she stops aging. As the years pass, she starts getting attention because her physical appearance doesn’t match her age and she’s forced to run. During the next eight decades, she changes her name and location every few years to stay hidden. Never telling anyone who she really is. But then, in our present day where the story picks up, she unexpectedly meets and falls for a guy named Ellis.
Anyway, I was watching this movie. Just a normal night on the couch with some popcorn. And then during one of the scenes part way through, God gave me a very clear message.
The characters’ second date takes place at Ellis’ apartment. And at one point Ellis says, “You could tell me anything and I’d believe it.” (Because Adelaide hasn’t opened up to him at all. She’s used to not sharing anything too personal about herself. Because it doesn’t seem safe. Who could possibly understand? Etc.)
And Adelaide replies, “It’s better this way.”
And that line - those four words - were something that I totally understood and connected with in that moment. Even though the premise of the movie is obviously completely different from my own life.
Because that’s where I was at that time. I felt like I couldn’t be me. Or that I was too different. I felt like I couldn’t share who I really was or what I’d gone through. In a lot of ways. For example, I had experienced a lot of abuse in my childhood and marriage. Also, my testimony of coming to Jesus is full of the supernatural and spiritual warfare. It wasn’t a moment where I quietly gave my heart over to Jesus.
I also seemed to see things differently than others. The church experiences I had had up to that point were very religious and difficult and I didn’t feel like I fit in. And where I was living geographically at the time…it was very difficult to make deep connections due to the culture.
So I just didn’t share much of myself anymore. I didn’t share my story. I felt too different. So I had decided somewhere along the way that it was just better to not share my story or much about myself. I had severely demoted the value of my journey, right along with my self-worth, and everything I’d gone through.
But then, as I was watching this movie scene, God kinda hit me over the head. Because in response to Adelaide, Ellis said, “No, it’s not.”
Three little words.
God really doesn’t need much to say a lot, does He?
‘Cause with those three little words, God blew my mind and my world open. In that short exchange, which was probably less than a minute of dialogue, in a movie that had nothing to do about God or Jesus, God impressed upon me that, “Hey. Your story matters. And you not sharing it…that’s not a good thing.”
Now again at the time…I didn’t realize God meant this in relation to my calling. This was one of those moments that He started putting me in the right direction and leaving what I like to call breadcrumbs. Experiences where I look back later on and realize how it fits after He’s done a lot more work.
Which is important to note because God doesn’t always deliver things in an organized packet that comes all at once. So feel free to look back at previous experiences and see if there are any breadcrumbs.
But here’s the thing, friend. Your story matters. Your story has power. Your God given dream, whatever that is, is very probably going to involve part of your story in some way. But Satan…he doesn’t want you to share your story and have an impact and change people’s lives. And I had latched onto three ideas - that were actually lies - that not only were affecting my calling (even though I didn’t realize it at the time). It was also affecting my well-being, too.
So as you pursue your God given dream, and you’re wondering what that involves, and if it includes your story, I want you to ask yourself these three questions:
#1: Have I chosen to believe that my story doesn’t matter?
In my case, I had chosen to believe that because my story was too different, at least as far as I could tell at the time, that it didn’t matter. It didn’t need to be told - even in the course of my daily life. Instead, it needed to be hidden. Kept silent. Like all these things never happened.
I had chosen to believe that my story didn’t have a place. That it wasn’t important. It was just this odd thing…and I was this odd person who didn't fit in anywhere.
Which is crazy to say now…God having led me to re-build Relate Escape years later, and launch this podcast, to help empower women based on my own journey.
My story matters…a lot. But the Enemy didn’t want me to share my story. My Enemy wanted me to bury my story. In fact, I believed that was the right and safe thing to do. I thought that was better.
But it wasn’t. Not only was I half-living myself, when it came to my own life, I was cheating the world. I was cheating God’s Kingdom. I wasn’t allowing God at the time to use my story even though I couldn’t see then how it could be used - based on where I was living then and where I was personally and spiritually.
Friend, the Enemy would love nothing more than for you to keep your story buried. To keep the help for others buried. To keep the testimonies of God’s love, provision, goodness, and steadfastness buried. To keep the seeds of change, big and small, buried.
Sister, your story matters. It matters because it’s yours and it matters because it can help others. Your story can change lives. No matter what it looks like and if it’s full of intense struggle or immense blessing and joy - or both. Your story matters to someone out there; and they need to hear it.
And if you want to live out your God given dream, you need to give your story the place and the voice it deserves.
So honestly ask yourself, “Do I believe that my story matters?” And if the answer to that is “no” … take it to Jesus. So He can do the work that needs to be done to change that about.
#2: Have I chosen to believe that “no one will understand”?
This is such a common lie and trick of the Enemy. Because if we feel as if our story or who we are is something too different…that other people won’t understand…we’ll be more likely to keep quiet. To not share it.
And that’s where I had been. I didn’t think anyone would truly understand the experiences I’d had or what I’d gone through. They just seemed too different. I seemed too different. Or too much. And so I had let myself give up.
Turns out, though, that was all a total lie. If no one could understand, how could I possibly come up with podcast topics week after week that align with what other women are struggling with? How could God call me to serve a target market of women just like myself in the first place? Clearly, there’s a lot of women who not only understand - but are yearning for the kind of help I can give them. Help I could have used myself throughout my life.
No matter what you’ve gone through, sister, someone else needs to hear your story. They need to know that they’re not different. They need to know that they’re not alone. Maybe God wants you to be the first to blaze a new trail. Maybe your story will be the first story to resonate with them and bring hope and healing in Jesus’ name.
So I want you to ask yourself, “Do I believe that my story, or who I am, is too different?” And if the answer is “yes” … again, take it to Jesus. Because there’s something there blocking your God given dream…and your freedom in Christ.
#3: Have I chosen to believe that “I’m too different”?
I’ve already touched on this a bit as it plays into a lot of things we’ve already talked about. But it bears mentioning on its own.
Because here’s the cruel trick that’s associated with this lie. If God is calling you to share your story, which isn’t like everyone else’s and requires you to be, well, you, it’s because other people out there need the help you can provide. It’s because God wants to partner with you in order to help transform those people’s lives.
Which means…you’re not “too different.” You’re the perfect person for the job. God doesn’t call the wrong people to the wrong roles.
You don’t need to be perfect. God doesn’t ask for perfectionism. But you’re the person He’s calling up to help others in the way only you can - partly because others out there need to hear your story.
The Enemy wants you to feel like you’re “too different” so that you stay silent. Because he knows the power your story can have. He knows there are others out there like you - facing what you’ve faced. So he’s going to do everything He can to convince you that your story has no place or value.
But that’s not what God wants. That’s not the truth. Again, your story has immense power.
So I want you to ask yourself, “Do I believe that my story is too different?” And if the answer is “yes” … take it to Jesus. Let Him break that lie for you into a million pieces and sweep them away.
Friend, I want you to get clarity on your God given calling or dream - and then seize it. And run with it! So, yes, do the clarity work. Unearth and rekindle your passions and talents and the things you’ve lost since forgotten to dream about. But also seek the story or journey God wants you to share with others. Use the helpful and practical tips that are out there…you can even check out episodes 7 and 8 to get more help in that way…but also make sure you’re not dismissing your story out of hand. Whether because you’ve assigned such a low value to it or have unintentionally bought into any of the Enemy’s lies.
Your God given dream is out there, waiting for you, and there isn’t any obstacle or challenge Jesus can’t get you through!