Gaining Traction: How Sharing Your Jesus Story Can Help You and Others Move Forward

I want to talk about something that we all experience at some point in our lives—feeling stuck. It could be a dead-end job, a challenging relationship, or a spiritual rut. Whatever it is, I want you to know that there's hope and that hope has a name: Jesus.

Think about a time in your life when you felt stuck. What was that experience like for you?

First, let's define what it means to be stuck. It's like having a dead battery in your car. You turn the key, but nothing happens. You're not going anywhere. Or it's like being stuck in the mud. The harder you try to get out, the deeper you sink. You feel helpless and hopeless.

That's where Jesus comes in. He's like a tow rope or a set of jumper cables. He can pull you out of the mud and give you the jump-start you need to get moving again. But here's the thing - you must be willing to accept his help.

Have you ever resisted accepting help from others or God? Why do you think that is?

In the Bible, there's a story that illustrates this perfectly. It's about a woman stuck in a cycle of broken relationships and empty pursuits. She was an outcast in her society, looked down upon by the religious folks. But one day, she had an encounter with Jesus that changed everything.

Jesus was passing through her town and stopped to rest at a well. It was noon, the hottest part of the day, and the woman came to draw water. When Jesus saw her, he did something unexpected. He talked to her. In that culture, men didn't usually talk to women in public, especially not to a woman with a reputation like hers. But Jesus saw beyond all that. He saw a person in need of love and acceptance.

As they talked, Jesus revealed that he knew all about her past - her five husbands and the man she was currently living with. But he didn't condemn her. Instead, he offered her something she had never experienced - living water.

He told her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

Can you relate to the woman at the well? Have you ever felt like an outcast or like your past defines you?

Wow! Can you imagine how that must have felt for her? To be seen, known, and loved by someone who knew everything about her? To be offered a fresh start and a new source of life and satisfaction? That's what Jesus does. He meets us right where we're at, in the mess and the muck of our lives, and offers us a way out.

But here's the thing—we must be willing to accept his offer, let go of our old coping methods, and trust him to lead us to something better. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it.

What old ways of coping might you need to let go of to accept Jesus' offer of new life?

When we encounter Jesus and experience his love and grace, we can't help but be changed. We start to see ourselves and others differently. We begin to have hope and purpose. We start to gain traction and move forward.

And here's the amazing part - when we experience the living water that Jesus offers, we can't help but want to share it with others. We've discovered the secret to life and want everyone to know about it!

I encourage people to share their stories of how Jesus has changed their lives. It doesn't have to be some big, dramatic testimony. It can be as simple as telling someone how Jesus helped you forgive someone who hurt you or how he gave you peace in a difficult situation.

What's one way that Jesus has changed your life that you could share with someone else?

Sharing our stories is like throwing a tow rope at someone stuck in the mud. We're saying, "Hey, I've been where you are, and I know how hard it is. But I also know that there's a way out. Let me tell you about Jesus and how he's helped me."

And you know what? When we share our stories, it doesn't just help the other person—it helps us, too. It reinforces our faith and reminds us of how far we've come. It's like we're gaining traction in our own spiritual journey as we help someone else gain traction in theirs.

Who is someone in your life right now who could benefit from hearing your story of how Jesus has changed you?

So, here's my challenge to you today: Take a few minutes right now to pray and ask God to bring someone to mind. It might be a family member, a friend, a coworker, or even a stranger you encounter daily. And when God brings someone to mind, don't hesitate - reach out to them. Invite them to coffee or lunch. Ask them how they're doing, and really listen. And when the time is right, share your story of how Jesus has changed your life.

It doesn't have to be perfect, and you don't have to have all the answers. Just be willing to throw them a tow rope and point them to Jesus. He's the one who does the heavy lifting and transforms lives.

What's one practical step you can take this week to reach out to the person God brought to your mind?

And who knows? Your story might be the thing that helps someone else get unstuck and start moving forward. Your story might be the jumper cables that spark new life in someone's soul.

So, don't underestimate the power of your story. Don't underestimate the power of Jesus to use you to make a difference in someone's life. You have something valuable to offer - the living water that never runs dry.

How does it make you feel to know that your story has the power to impact someone else's life?

If you're feeling stuck right now, there's hope. Jesus is ready and waiting to help you get moving again. All you need to do is reach out to him and accept his offer of a new life.

And if you've already experienced the living water Jesus offers, don't keep it to yourself. Share it with others. Be a tow rope, a set of jumper cables, a conduit of God's love and grace to a world that desperately needs it.