Sharing Our Stories

Sharing Our Stories

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God uses what we have been through to help us empathize with others—I have seen this in my life as well as in the lives of others. As a matter of fact, that is one of the reasons Lauren and I partnered with Nathan to write Quiet Strength.

However, when Nathan first approached me with the idea for a book that God had revealed to him while he was sitting in a church worship service, my response was far from enthusiastic.

“No!” I just couldn’t picture myself walking into a bookstore and seeing a display of books with my name and face plastered on the front covers. I couldn’t imagine that I would have anything to share that anyone would want to hear. And so we put the idea of a book about me aside.

And then my team, the Indianapolis Colts, won the Super Bowl. Suddenly, the pressure was enormous from everyone who wanted to write “my story.” It had been three years since Nathan and I had first talked, so we revisited my reluctance, and I changed my mind. It was the right decision for many reasons—but the one that was the main impetus turned out to be the most gratifying.

Going into it, we felt that if one life would be blessed and made better because of something we shared, it would be worth the effort. I never imagined what God was going to orchestrate. We heard story after story of people who had been blessed, comforted, and whose lives had been made better because they read Quiet Strength. In many instances, people shared that they were challenged to make a difference in the world because of something we had written. I was humbled by many things through the process, including seeing the book become a New York Times bestseller. It was remarkable to see what God was able to do with my willingness to share.

What about your own story? It may never appear in print, but that doesn’t mean it won’t touch someone’s life, the person God specifically wants to hear it. God has given you a unique story to share with at least one person—one that will bless his or her life.

Uncommon Key > Look for opportunities to share a word of comfort and grace with someone today—perhaps through a story of what God has done in your life.