May 18, 2025 Devo

One thing that I’ve become very aware of is how much the faith of my family and church became the foundation of my own faith and journey with God. My father told me story after story of how God worked in his family when he was growing up. There were stories of God’s provision, healing, and intervention. As one of 16 kids, God HAD to do miracles for them to get by! He also shared about how, as an adult, God gave him wisdom at work, courage to make hard decisions, and the “little miracles” of God in his life.
I remember one story he told about a part that was needed at the factory where he worked, and no one could find it. It wasn’t on the shelf back in the big storeroom where it was supposed to be. Dad said he walked back in the storeroom after multiple people had tried to find it. He walked down a row and stopped to pray. He related that when he said, “Amen,” he reached up on a shelf above his head which he couldn’t see, and laid his hand on the part. He said he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. What an amazing God, attentive to even the smallest details in our lives!
At church, I had Sunday School teachers who shared their faith journey, punctuating their Bible lessons with personal stories of God’s Hand in their lives. Then there were the Sunday evening services, which often featured people from the congregation sharing their testimonies of God’s goodness and power. These stories strengthened my faith and commitment. They encouraged me on my journey. They anchored me in my times of struggle. I am forever grateful for the rich heritage I received from those who have gone before me.
That’s why it’s so important for us to share our stories as well. Our children and grandchildren need more than simply to be sent to church. They need to hear what God has done for us! They need to know how we’ve struggled, doubted, and yet persevered. They need to hear about how God answered our prayers in just the nick of time. They need to be exposed to our stories of God’s grace and faithfulness. Yes, they need to read the Bible for themselves. Yes, they will ultimately have to choose on their own whether to believe in God or not. Yes, they will have to shape their own journey with God on the unique path that He has for them. But YOUR story is powerful. YOUR story is important. YOUR story may be EXACTLY what they need as they face a similar situation in the future. When they hear what God has done for US, it’s easier for them to believe what God can do for THEM. Most of us had people whose stories live on in our lives. Let’s make sure OUR stories don’t die when we die. Let’s tell these next generations what God has done for us! That’s God’s Word for you today.