Can I Get a Witness?

Recently someone told me that I talk too much about God and faith, that I write about Him too much on my blog. Funny thing is I had been feeling lately like I focused too much on fun poetry prompts and didn’t share about my faith as much as I used to.

I do write about my faith here on my blog, but no one is forced to read it. No one is required to agree with me. And I doubt this person has even visited my blog in a long time.

This person also told me I shouldn’t talk so much about the trauma I’ve been through. “I know it happened,” she said, “but others don’t need to hear about it.”

My first thought? I won’t be silenced. I won’t send the message that others who have been raped should keep it to themselves. I refuse to hide the choices that have shaped me because someone else doesn’t want to hear it. #silentnomore #metoo

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I’ve heard the same complaint from this person before, numerous times. It’s hard, because it is someone I love. It breaks my heart that she is so opposed to hearing my faith story. I long ago quit sharing anything about God directly with her, but she still complains about it. “I don’t need to be forgiven,” she insists.

Fine. Then don’t ask for forgiveness. Don’t believe in God or Jesus. We all have free will. But quit telling me to hide my light under a basket.

I do need to be forgiven. I’m far from perfect. I’ve done things that are wrong. I’ve harbored attitudes that are hurtful. If not for the forgiveness of Jesus, and His message about my need to forgive given in a dream, I would quite possibly be dead right now. The despair I lived in before He rescued me was too much for me to bear. I will keep sharing until every single person who wants or needs to hear my witness has heard or read what I have to share about the grace and mercy of my God.

Encouragement When I Needed It Most

Then I got this sweet card from my sister-in-law. It was the only piece of mail in the mailbox on Monday. She just wanted me to know that she sees me as a blessing and that she is thinking of me as I struggle to comprehend the death of my oldest sister. (A struggle I wrote about in an article published at The Mighty yesterday).

She wrote these words that gave me comfort and strength: “I also want to thank you for your tremendous witness of our Savior’s love & mercy. It is so inspiring.”

That is what I desire to do: inspire hope, love, and mercy in others. Not all will want to hear, but many will resonate with the faith stories I tell and the poetry I write.

As I reread the card from my sister-in-law, I realized that the person who objected to me sharing my faith doesn’t really have a problem with me. She has a problem with God. And He’s big enough to handle the problem without my needing to fix it.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 4:6 NIV.

So if you don’t want to hear about God, please feel free to not read my blog. If you hang out here, you’re bound to hear His name a time or two.

If you are struggling with life and are in need of some hope, then stick around. I aim to provide encouragement and hope from the only true source I’ve found: Jesus.

And if you feel a little tug in your spirit telling you to let another person know how much they bless you, I urge you to follow that nudge. The person the Lord brought to mind might be struggling and need to hear the words you are prompted to share.