If you were asked to give your testimony right now, could you? God is weaving a beautiful tapestry and each one of us who are called according to His name make up part of this tapestry. My part is different than your part. My story and circumstances are different from your story and circumstances. But neither one is any less precious in His sight. Our testimonies help to give those outside the faith hope and encouragement. Our individual testimonies bring hope to others as we focus less on ourselves and more on what God has done through us. We read in 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”. Again our testimonies should always direct glory to the Father, as we read in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” So as I started, what is your testimony? How has God acted in your life uniquely, for every relationship is unique, and how can you take that unique relationship and tell those around you who are starving for God to encourage them to take that crucial step towards Jesus? Each unique testimony can reach some that might not be reached by others. People like to relate. Those who struggled with substance abuse and were healed by God will probably speak volumes to others struggling with substance abuse. Those going through various trials, such as loss of loved ones, loss of health, etc will readily listen to one who has gone through similar situations and were carried through in the arms of God.

When reading through portions of Scripture and a portion seems oddly inserted, the answer is not to consider it odd or random, but to consider why it was inserted. Jeremiah’s despair and despondency is almost palpable as we read in Lamentations 3:4-8, 18, “He has aged my flesh and my skin, And broken my bones. He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and woe. He has set me in dark places Like the dead of long ago. He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out; He has made my chain heavy. Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer...And I said, “My strength and my hope Have perished from the Lord.” You can read these words and feel the despair and hopelessness. Then seemingly out of nowhere he recalls the mercies of God and regains hope as we read in 3:21-23, “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Out of despair comes hope, but most probably were not listening as was the case for most of his life as a prophet. But seemingly out of nowhere we come to 3:52-66, which appears to have nothing to do with the stream of thoughts which preceded this. What Jeremiah does is recant his own testimony from Jeremiah 37-38. We read in Lamentations 3:55, “I called on Your name, O Lord, From the lowest pit.” Jeremiah was thrown in a cistern, alone, to die. He felt hopelessness and despair and called out to the Lord. God sent Ebed-Melech and Jeremiah was saved. His testimony is inserted to let those know who are hopeless, that even when circumstances seem hopeless we have a God who is able and willing to reach out in love and mercy.

If at this moment you can’t state your testimony, how about you spend some time this week meditating on this question, even putting it in writing. Once you are done pray about one person in your life who needs to hear the gospel message of Jesus Christ through your personal story and simply tell them.