Heaven's Math: God's Work + Our Story = Kingdom Growth

"And because of his words many more became believers."

John 4: 41

Caught between honor and truth, an aspiring writer leans toward silence and blank pages. Poised across the desk, her emotional heart throbs while images toss and turn in her mind, threatening to scatter across the blank page for all to see. But her hands won't move, fearful of painting such an honest picture. So, her mind plays ping pong with two simple questions: "What will they think?" and "Who cares about my story, anyway?" Stuck in fear, she pounds out ineffective stories.

Familiar with this battle - the one where love and honor weigh heavy with hearts battling truth - I offer her my best advice: Tell the truth. Write, anyway. But it sounds so cliche, even though I know it's true.

I spend days fidgeting at my own computer and skirting around the truth out of fear or doubtful purpose. But God reminds me - He's rescued me from my greatest pain, restored my heart, and released my writing passion for the sake of telling His redemptive story. Why?  To build a common denominator so others might see Him.

{God's Work + Our Story = Kingdom Growth}

Jesus worked under this equation throughout his ministry. We see this especially in his encounter with the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42). Jesus knew her sordid story - how she'd married and divorced five times and now lived with another - and told it to her. Yet, despite her dirty little secrets, he offered her forgiveness, redemption, and acceptance. And what did she do? She told her story and brought more people to see Jesus.

"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him [Jesus] because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.' So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of His words many more became believers" (John 4:39-41).

Our stories matter! They build common denominators and multiply God's purpose and cause Kingdom growth.

So what's your story? How has God asked you to share His redemptive work with others? What is your biggest struggle in moving forward?