Three Ways We Encourage Others with Our Faith Story

Group of Young Mothers Relaxing In Cafe by Vibe Images (DollarPhotoClub}

Why Share Our Faith Story: Part three of four parts 

Editor’s Note: This four-part series is taken from Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies by Nancy HC Ward. The series includes Six Reasons Jesus Calls Us to Evangelize, Six Ways Sharing Our Faith Story Helps Us Grow, Three Ways We Encourage Others with Our Faith Story, Three Ways We Glorify God by Sharing Our Faith Story. Enjoy!

Evangelization is part and parcel of being a Christian, but sharing our faith is not simply a chore to be carried out. When we share our faith stories with others, not only do we grow as Christians, but we encourage others and give glory to God. Three major ways we encourage others by sharing our faith story:

1. When we share our story, we nourish and encourage those who hear it.

God uses our story to nourish others with his loving presence. People around us are attracted to the slightest hint of the Lord in our testimony amid our myriad of weaknesses. Why? Because they can relate to our imperfections as well as our humility. God’s infinite power and glory contrasts with their great need and lavishly fills it.

And what an audience we have! Good people everywhere are striving for peace and longing for hope—both online and offline. The Pew 2014 US Religious Landscape Survey, showed that 15% of Catholics shared their faith online and 39% saw others do so. And, offline, 38% of Catholics shared their faith in person. We can be the inspired consumers and motivated providers of faith stories both online and off. Wherever we interact with others, our involvement in evangelization brings God’s presence to them.

Think of one person in the pew or a Facebook friend who doesn’t know God loves him or her personally. Imagine what it would mean to that person if you could bring God’s love into that one life!

2. We engage in spiritual works of mercy.

When we share our faith story, we aren’t showing off, we are helping others in their spiritual need. The Catechism defines “works of mercy” as:

charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. (CCC 2447)

Here are three examples of how our story can be helpful in our works of mercy:

• We can “counsel the doubtful” by demonstrating our faith through the witness of our life so that others may see God’s love revealed through our words and actions.
• We can “instruct the ignorant” as we talk about how God loves us, forgives us, heals us, and transforms us. We do that best by sharing stories of our struggles and God’s faithfulness.
• We can “comfort the afflicted” by listening and comforting those who are dealing with grief. When we can’t find the words to console them, the Holy Spirit will prompt us with an incident in our story when God was faithful during our loss.

3. We reflect and connect Jesus to others.

Our story makes Jesus real to those whom the Holy Spirit prepares to receive it. We are reflections of Christ to others. God expresses his love through our stories. The life of Jesus living in us connects with his life living in others, activates their faith, and strengthens our faith as we share our stories. They get to know Jesus Christ through our stories.

Ask Yourself: Am I surprised by any of the ways that sharing my faith story encourages others? Which one excites me the most?

Next in the Why Share Our Faith Story series: Three Ways We Glorify God by Sharing Our Faith Story.