Why You Need to Know Your Story

Today is the last day to receive the early registration discount for the upcoming women’s  Recovering Your StoryIntensive Retreat.  This retreat is like the gospel, good news that must be talked about.  Why?  Because it will be a holy time of learning from Scripture, listening to God, letting the Holy Spirit soften our hearts to hear the story of grace God has written and is writing in our lives.

But some people have concerns about studying our stories.  As a gentleman who approached me at a church retreat I did several years ago said to me, “I don’t know about this Knowing Your Story talk you’re giving.”  I asked him his concerns and he offered the following:

1. People will become “navel-gazers;” that is, they will always be so hung up on their own stories they will have no interest in loving others.
2. People will be suffer the “paralysis of analysis,” that is, they will be so busy thinking about their stories, they won’t serve others.
3. People will become entrenched in victimization, throwing grand eternal pity parties for themselves and inviting others to join.

I told the gentleman that I absolutely agreed that these things could happen and they would be a disastrous result of knowing your story.  I gave him three reasons I believe knowing our stories is important.

1. Our primary story is the one Scripture tells about us.  Too many people treat the fiery, living Word of God like a textbook that has little meaning or significance to us.  We must know this Story because it tells the truth about God and the truth about us.
2. God authored our stories.  Studying our stories, the contours of tragedy and redemption is a way to understand the God who made us and loves us and redeems us.
3. When we know our unique stories, we have a better grasp of the areas where God may be calling us to love and serve in his kingdom.  Knowing our stories should lead us to greater outward movement in both love and service.

There are lots more reasons we ought to know our stories, both the story Scripture tells about God and us, and the unique story of grace God has written in us.

For reflection:

1.  What about you?  What do you know about your story?  What do you wish you understood better?  Where can you see God in your story?  Where do you have doubts about what he’s doing?

2.  If you are a woman wanting to know your story better, please consider attending the Recovering Your Story Intensive Retreat.  It will be a holy time of learning from Scripture, listening to God, letting the Holy Spirit soften our hearts to hear the story of grace God has written and is writing in our lives.