The Power of Testimony

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.’
(Psalm 145)

Throughout the Bible, we are encouraged (and indeed commanded) to ‘declare’ God’s goodness to each other. Personally, hearing others share about what God is doing in their life reminds me of the mercy and greatness of God and helps to fuel worship.

It can be too easy, however, for testimonies to only focus on ‘big’ answers to prayer and ‘wow’ moments. Whilst these are vital things to praise God for, we must be careful not to dismiss the testimonies of God being at work over time. Stories that are incomplete but consist of trusting and walking with God prayerfully through the process can be just as significant.

Hearing honest accounts of what God is doing in the here and now in others’ lives is what can make testimony so powerful. Often, the stories are about trusting God in the midst of pain and uncertainty – continuing to declare the goodness and character of God despite unanswered prayer. These kinds of stories are consistent with so many that we find in the Bible. As we read honest accounts of individuals seeking God, and how God was faithful time after time, we can read these examples as testimonies of God’s character, encouraging us to believe that God is at work in our lives too.

I want to encourage us to recognise that testimony is powerful for: faith and revelation, prayer and community. Let me explain each of these so we can think about how we can grow in encouraging each other to be expectant in this area.

Faith and revelation

When I have experienced times of waiting and unanswered prayer, God has often graciously drawn me closer to himself, revealing more of himself, encouraging me to lean into the truth of who he is, as well as doing a work on my character.

So, I encourage you, if you find yourself in this kind of season, share about the process, as it is a significant and powerful testimony.

Prayer

Sharing publicly with each other what we are trusting God for, and how God has been faithful to us is such an important part of us standing with each other in prayer and trusting God at his word.

Community

As we hear these testimonies declaring the goodness of God it helps us both build our faith in him, and we get to know each other better.

My experience is that as we listen, share burdens, celebrate God’s goodness and pray together, we experience a greater depth of community.

So what does this mean for us as we look ahead this year? Ephesians 2 vs 22 says:  22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit”.

We are encouraged to each come prepared and willing to share with each other on a Sunday or in small group. When we have a testimony, sharing it may seem daunting - however, there is permission to be honest and real with a confidence that as we grow in declaring God’s goodness, he will continue to reveal more of himself and also teach us to love each other well in prayer.  

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