The Healing Power of Shared Stories

The most life-giving words I heard all weekend were only two words long: "Me too."

This week I shared my story at the family Camp in Arizona, and it revived my soul. I was reminded of God's relentless love and constant presence throughout my life, and those two words were what so many people said to me after my sermons, again and again.

I shared about the difficult relationship I had with my father, who was addicted to drugs and alcohol and got violent when intoxicated. I shared how I found a safe place and love in God's house, and a lady came up to me and shared, "Me too."

I shared how God saved my grandmother; before I was even born, she led my mom to the Lord, and my mom raised me in the church. I shared how this changed my storyline. And a few people came up to me and said, "Me too."

I shared how I was impacted by death and the loss of loved ones and how God comforted me and led me out of the shadow of the valley of death to tell others of his reconciling love, and so many people came up to me and said, "Me too."

I shared how God saved me, called me into the ministry, and provided everything I needed to prepare for this calling. How He moved me from Johannesburg, Mozambique, and then to the United States to share his word, and people came up to me and said, "Me too." They shared how God called them, prepared them, and guided them every step along the way.

So why was this camp meeting so life-giving to me? It reminded me of several sustaining truths.

First: God is active and working all around the world. He is saving, sanctifying, and sending people from all walks of life to bear his love and grace to the world. God is still reconciling the world to himself, and he is inviting us to join him in this mission.

Second: I am not alone. All these people with whom one might think I have very little in common are part of my family in Jesus. We came from different countries, different families, and different histories, yet we recognized one another because we had encountered the same Savior. This experience is the fellowship of the family of God, people who share both the harshness of life in a fallen world and the grace that fills it with light. They understand when I say, "Me too."

Third: People want to know that they are not alone. Having the courage to share your story builds connections and destroys perceived walls. When you open yourself up, others will often feel free to do the same. And that can be a healing experience for all involved.

Most of all, I was overwhelmed by the realization that I get to do this. This little girl from the township of Johannesburg has the honor to represent her Savior in the most unexpected ways. Not only that, He uses me to encourage and draw people to Himself; this is amazing.

And perhaps that is the greatest miracle of all. God takes ordinary stories, redeems them with extraordinary grace, and then uses them so someone else can whisper, "Me too."

Have you ever experienced the healing that comes when someone says, "Me too"? I'd love to hear your story in the comments.