Turning Your Mess into a Message

“Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me” (Psalm 66:16).

Only God can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, and a victim into a victory. The power of our personal testimony for God is unparalleled! Nobody wants to go through difficult circumstances. Yet, when we emerge from setbacks, we gain something the devil can never take away—our personal story and testimony of God’s grace and goodness! Whatever we’ve overcome, we have battle scars that open the door for us to be a witness for Him to the world. Our experiences can encourage others to seek God’s help and find deliverance in Jesus. “The unbelieving world should see our testimony lived out daily because it just may point them to the Savior” (Billy Graham).

The biblical account of Jonah gives us an epic example of this. Jonah stubbornly ran from God when tasked with preaching repentance to the city of Nineveh. This was a pagan empire notorious for its cruelty AND was an enemy of Israel. As Jonah tried to escape God on a ship sailing to Tarshish, the Lord sent a violent storm to deter his attempt. When the ship’s crew realized Jonah was the cause of the life-threatening waves, they threw him overboard to save themselves. God intercepted Jonah through a giant fish who swallowed him! Jonah pleaded for God’s mercy for three days and three nights inside that fish. Then God miraculously commanded the fish to vomit him out onto dry land. Now THAT’S A TESTIMONY! Jonah submitted to God’s assignment and preached repentance to the people of Nineveh. Upon hearing the witness of Jonah, the nation humbled themselves and turned from their sins! A fire for God was ignited because of Jonah’s unprecedented testimony (Jonah 1-4).

God has a way of turning our darkest moments into our most significant victories. He heals the wounds of our past and brings light and hope to our future. Our redemption through the blood of Jesus, provides an avenue to reach others who are struggling and tell them about His healing power and saving grace!

Guiding Points:

Call to Action: How can you share your experience and tell people what Jesus has done for you? Pray for God’s direction in this area to unlock His witnessing potential for you!

“Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:9).

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those He redeemed from the hand of the foe, then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress” (Psalm 107:1- 2, 6).

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise today! We ask You to open doors for us to share our testimony with others who need to hear it. Let us have the opportunity to tell them about Your mercy and faithfulness. May our experiences be a blessing to others. Let YOUR light shine as we honor You! In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen!

Final Thought: Be the hands and feet of Jesus, and He will embolden you on your journey. Remember, “If you have a pulse, you have a purpose!”