We Overcome by our Testimony
Scripture tells us that we overcome by the words of our testimony and the blood of the Lamb.
Even if you don’t believe the Bible, anyone can see that sometimes the only way to get justice for abuse survivors, is to tell authorities what happened. We give our testimony in court or as a witness to police.
I do believe the Bible, as much as I can understand it. There are some things that don’t make sense to me. Some of it tells of the history of corrupt people doing rotten things. Some is poetry. Some is doctrine, and some is projected future events.
The book of Revelation is actually the revelation of Christ. So, it has broad and deep interpretations. The passage indicates that we have an enemy of our souls. This enemy hates us because God loves us. He wants to destroy us to hurt the Father.
The blood of the Lamb translates us from darkness to light. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Jn 3:16
If you’ve read this blog at all, you know that I share my testimony. I even wrote a book by that title. It was very difficult to write, but it did expose some dark things so that the light of the Gospel could be shown.
It is important to recognize that the word overcome means there is substantial effort involved. It isn’t easy and there will be opposition.
I speak about 25 times per year. My story is almost always a part of what I am sharing. It is personal and profound. Sometimes, I can’t wrap my own head around it. God not only brought me through, but is now using it to help others in various ways.
This weekend, I spoke to a ProLife Convention. Most people who hear my story approach me gently, asking if they can give me a hug or just saying thank you for giving them ways to help others that may be in similar circumstances.
One man at this event looked very much like my biological father, when he was young. It could have thrown me off, but I was intentional to recognize where and when it was. No one else even noticed my inner struggle to stay on task. We have to train our brains for just such things, because they will happen, especially when you give your testimony.
Another man came up to me during a break to give me some advice about taking questions better. He grabbed my arm firmly at my IV site. It was a quick squeeze and release, but it was right one the spot where the IV goes into my arm. I tipped my body, thinking he would not do it again, but he did. Two more times he grabbed me in the same spot.
I don’t think it was malice on his part, but I do think the devil could use it to try to keep me from sharing again or just to hurt me. It did hurt and it remained sore through the next day. It could make me think that I shouldn’t do speaking events until the IV is out, which may be months or it could make me think that the enemy of our souls can still hurt me.
There could be a hundred responses. I chose to take it as a life lesson. The lesson is that overcoming is very different than floating downstream. It takes effort. We must be resilient. The fight is real.
Our testimony will make a difference in this world. It could mean the difference between life and death, abuse or safety.
Earlier this week, I spoke at a fundraising banquet for a maternity home. I gave an abridged version of my testimony and pointed to the fact that the maternity home ministry saves lives like mine and preserves a heritage for the Lord, by saving children and grandchildren.
They raised over $100,000 that night. Obviously, it wasn’t because of my testimony, but it had a small part in that effort to maintain the home for the next year. For that, I am in awe of God’s goodness.
What is your testimony? How can you overcome with it?