The Story We Tell Again and Again
Why would we tell our story again and again and again? Some tell their story to gain attention and fame, while others see their story as a gift to be told. Those that fall in the latter category realize that the story they tell is vital because it has the power to change.
Our story reveals what we believe about redemption.
Throughout my years in social services I have realized that most people want to help others. They have such good intentions and they want to make an impact. However, there are questions that linger and if not answered stifle impact. These questions should be wrestled with. Questions like…
Who am I, really?
Where did I come from?
And who rescued me?
Until these questions are answered, leadership will feel manufactured. Your story will sound rehearsed and hollow,
You see, authenticity is not found in polish. It is found in humility.
You Cannot Offer What You Have Not Experienced
If you want to help others find lasting change, you must first confront your own need for it.
There is a passage in the Bible that is so true and reveals why we have a great need.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23
That includes me. That includes you.
We are not self-made. We are not self-sufficient. We are not self-redeeming.
Lasting change does not begin with strategy. It begins with surrender.
When we humble ourselves, we begin to see the truth about who we are, broken yet deeply loved. We begin to recognize that our story is not primarily about our success, our resilience, or our grit.
It is about grace.
The Story of Redemption
The good new that Jesus talks about is not self-improvement. It is resurrection.
The Bible tells us:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Rom. 5:8
The story of redemption begins with this reality:
We were separated from God.
We could not save ourselves.
Jesus stepped in.
Jesus lived the life we could not live. He died the death we deserved. He rose again so that we might have new life. A new life is lasting change.
When you realize that your identity is rooted not in performance but in redemption, something shifts.
You stop striving to prove yourself.
You stop building affirmation platforms.
You start telling a story of grace.
And that story carries power.
Humility Reveals Passion
When you understand what you have been saved from, compassion begins to grow.
When you remember who you were without Christ, you grow patient with others and you want to serve them. Your story becomes real and you desperately want others to experience what now roots you.
When you see your own redemption clearly, you start walking with people who need guidance.
This is where authentic leadership is born.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
You cannot fake new creation. You experience it deeply, and when you experience it, you cannot help but speak about it.
There is another passage in the Bible that tells of a Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus Christ. She had a traumatic past, filled with shame and guilt. Yet, when she encounters Jesus she experiences a love so divine that her life’s desires completely change. She no longer thirsts for outwardly acceptance. She is so moved by what she has experienced that she runs to tell all who will listen about her encounter, and because of her story many believed!
The Power to Share Your Story
People are not moved by perfection. They are moved by transformation.
Your story becomes powerful when it is anchored in:
Honesty about your brokenness
Gratitude for your redemption
Confidence in Christ, not yourself
That is what gives you authority. You are not your credentials, not your platforms, not the applause from others.
Redemption gives you courage.
Grace gives you endurance.
The gospel gives you something worth repeating.
Again and again and again.
Do You Want to Find Lasting Change?
Maybe you are reading this and realizing something:
You’ve tried to fix yourself.
You’ve tried to outwork your past.
You’ve tried to build a better version of yourself.
But lasting change does not come from trying harder. It comes from surrendering fully.
The gospel is simple:
God is holy.
We are sinners.
Jesus Saves.
Faith in Him brings forgiveness, new life, and reconciliation with God.
Scripture says:
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
That is the beginning.
Not behavior modification.
Not image management.
Not leadership strategy.
Salvation.
And from that foundation flows authentic influence, lasting impact, and a story worth telling.
An Invitation
If you have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ, today can be the day.
Humble yourself.
Acknowledge your need.
Turn from your sin.
Trust in Christ alone.
Ask Him to save you.
And if you already know Him, return to that story. Sit in it again. Let it humble you again. Let it fuel you again.
Because the power in your leadership does not come from your strength. It comes from redemption. Redemption is a story worth repeating again and again and again. If this post stirred something inside of you then I would love to have a conversation with you. Hit that Work with Jake button above and let’s talk about your story.
