You want to tell your story, but you don’t know where to start. Maybe you even hate writing. Don’t let that stop you! Everyone tells stories—the crazy thing that happened last week, the time you got lost or fell in love or broke your leg. The Bible is full of stories of unusual, even humorous ways God has worked in people’s lives. You also have a story to tell.
You may have many unique stories of God’s hand in your life—picking one is your First Step. Think about some chapters in your life story. A chapter is a time period or event where you’ve experienced God’s faithfulness. Ponder some questions, alone or with a friend, as you go through your day:
How has God surprised me by showing up in a challenging situation in my life?
In what ongoing problem has God helped me gain perspective or hope?
How did God first move in my life to draw me to faith?
If you’re stuck trying to choose something, pick one situation in your life anyway and go on to Step 2.
Storytelling is both creative and orderly. Step 2 gives your creative side (yes, you have one!) center stage. Grab a blank piece of paper and your favorite pen.
Set a timer for 15 minutes. Using a short phrase, write your main topic in the middle of your paper. Circle the phrase and draw branches on the paper from the main topic to related ideas. No filtering allowed! Just write whatever comes to mind. Keep your pen flowing while you circle words and draw more branches.
Questions to help:
Who? What? When and Where?
What emotions did you experience?
Which other people were involved? How was your life affected?
What did you see or hear, taste or smell?
By the time your timer rings, you’re likely to find your ideas focusing around a big idea. What is it? Can you sum it up in one sentence? Say that sentence into a voice recognition platform on your phone or write it down.
For Step 3, allow around 45 minutes. Reflect alone or ask an empathetic friend to read aloud the following questions for you. Either way, record your answers by writing or using voice recognition.
How did the situation begin? Identify the when and where of your personal challenge.
How did the situation develop—get worse or better or involve other people?
Who or what stepped in to change your perspective or the situation, or both?
How did you experience God’s comfort and truth from His Word?
How do you have healing, courage or hope as you reflect on or continue in your challenge?
Congratulations, you have a first draft of your story! Maybe you love it—or maybe you think it’s a tangled mess. That’s okay; first drafts usually start out rough. Whatever it looks like right now, your story is a powerful and unique testimony of God’s work in your life!
Sacred Story Ministries helps women share their Christ-centered stories of hope. We come alongside women to polish their stories through retreats and personal editing. Visit our online Story Library to read true stories other women have written. We can help in two ways …
Story Writing Retreats: Ask your women’s ministry director and/or small group leader to consider a Sacred Story Retreat by scheduling a conversation on our website. Women who attend retreats go deeper in friendships while benefiting from complimentary follow-up editing.
Personal coaching and editing: Sacred Story offers personal coaching and editing for a flat fee of $99. If you choose to share your story in our online library, we will work with you (for no additional fee) to come up with a version you’re ready to share with your friends and family via social media and other online platforms.
Your story matters, sister. Get started today because there are others who need to find hope by hearing your story.
