The Baton of Hope
Sharing our stories-in-progress
When we share our stories, we pass the baton of hope to help others move forward.
I crossed paths with a young woman in church a few years ago, and what started off as a casual exchange about Chicago’s traffic and brutal winters morphed into a deeper conversation about life and faith. She opened up to me about some of her current challenges— the ones that kept her up at night and made it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. The battles that chased her around mid-day. I noticed her weariness even before she delved deep into her personal struggles. Recent life events had left her overwhelmed. Stressed. Discouraged. Yet, the fight within her spoke louder than her frustrations. Her resilient "I-may-be-knocked-down-but-I'm-getting-back-up-again" attitude explained how she pressed her way to Bible study in spite of her obstacles.
After listening to her story, I encouraged her to hold on and maintain the fight she still had left inside of her. I reminded her: "God's got you. You're going to make it." I was fully prepared to say goodbye and take my seat until a prompting nudged me to continue the conversation. In that moment I realized I needed to go beyond listening and telling her she'd make it through. I needed to share my story.
As I talked about losing my mother to cancer and shared my grief journey, the tone of our conversation shifted, and we connected on a different level. A deeper one. Even though our situations and circumstances were different, we could still relate to each other’s pain points: The struggle between wanting to give up but yearning to push through. The uncertainty that lingered in the unknown. The unsettling feeling of hope waning while wondering when God would step in to fix the situation. She resonated with my story—the plot twists that brought me to my knees. God’s faithfulness rewriting the painful parts.
The trials we face in life are bigger than us, and we can use our chapters—the good, the bad, and the in-between—to uplift others.
Most people appreciate an encouraging word when they're feeling down and out but receiving a word of encouragement from someone traveling the same road or climbing out of a similar pit hits differently. I never intended to open up to her about my own struggles that evening. I assumed my part in our encounter was to listen, but I’ve learned that sharing our stories helps other people more than we'll ever know.
The trials we face in life are bigger than us, and we can use our chapters—the good, the bad, and the in-between—to uplift others. Our stories heal. They empower and refresh others and re-energize our own faith in the process. They restore hope in those who feel broken. They show God's grace and beauty to those suffocating underneath the weight of everyday life. And they remind us how far God has brought us.
It took courage to open up to a stranger that day, but I’m glad I listened to the still small voice that prompted me to share my story-in-progress. The journey of life comes with challenges. But there is beauty in knowing we don't have to carry our burdens alone. And when we share our stories, we pass the baton of hope to help others move forward.
Weekly prompt : How can you share your story with others this week? What ways can you pass the baton of hope?
Peace and blessings,
KYM Writes
