Introduction
If you’re anything like me, you’ve relied on everyone else’s interpretation of who you are. I trusted everyone else’s insights about what it means to be a woman, to be Black, to be a wife, to be a mother, etc. I listened to and analyzed countless sermons. I’ve read more books than you can imagine. I examined blog posts and websites. I participated in Bible Studies. I did all these things, yet I remained dissatisfied. I secretly wondered, “Where am I in the Bible?” I searched for answers everywhere else, doing everything short of reading scripture and allowing God’s Word to speak to me, teach me, correct me, train me, equip me.
But when I finally cried out to the Lord, “Don’t you see me? Don’t you care? Why aren’t you answering me?”; God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, answered (Isaiah 65:24). Just as He responded to Hagar, He assured me, “I hear your misery and I see you” (Genesis 16:11 and 13). He reminded me that just as He was with Joshua, He was with me too (Joshua 1:5). God heard my cry, just as He heard David’s, and just as He promised David, He promised to rescue and honor me (Psalm 91:15). God reminded me that every answer to every question that I had could be found in His Word. All I had to do, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), was to search His Word (John 5:39, Proverbs 16:1, Jeremiah 33:3).
It’s been like a great awakening! Passages and stories that I’ve read or heard a thousand times have taken on different meaning. The stories were no longer about someone else, but about ME! Revelations and insights filled my journal and my heart and my story has taken a dramatic turn from doubt to determination; fear to faith; shame to security; brokenness to beauty; victim to victorious!
And while I have a great desire to run and shout about the way God’s been moving in my life from the rooftops (and I will). And while I believe that God has called me to share my testimony using my gifts as a writer (and I will); I don’t want to become another voice interpreting God’s Word for you as so many had become for me. Sure, I’m humbled by the opportunity to share and I’m excited to engage in dialogue and exchange with you. But truth be told, if you only read God’s Story, and received insights and revelations from Him alone, I wouldn’t be offended at all. Because that’s all we need. His Word is more than enough. And just as He speaks to me, He can and will speak to You. In fact, He desires to speak to You.
It is my prayer, that God’s Story and its impact on My Story, will serve to transform Your Story so that you too can experience greater knowledge, understanding, wisdom, renewal and a desire to then share it with others!
