My story is a God story, and I bet you have one too because life is hard. Here’s my question and challenge for you today. Are you embracing it? (No judgments here as I’m still working on embracing all of mine!)

30 years ago I graduated high school….um how did that happen? If you’d asked me then what my life would look like it would have been nothing like what has transpired over the 30 years…but not long before graduation, in 1994, I made the best decision ever to follow Jesus. It is because of that, and my relationship with Him, any of this I’m going to share is possible.

My story, but His glory!

4 years ago this week I jumped off a huge cliff as I set up my LLC. I had no idea if my business would succeed, and I was not only learning how to run a business, but a new skill set in working with dyslexic kiddos. It was incredibly scary to jump into the unknown, but God had led me there and told me to, so I did. It has not been easy, and when your income relies solely on you, it is kind of horrifying.

What if I fail? What if they find out what a mess my life has been and then don’t want to work with me? What if?????

But God…

He has been faithful to continue to be my provider, and to guide me, even in my many mistakes. (And trust me there have been plenty in learning the business ropes!) I am still growing parts of my business to make it more sustainable, and once I finish my current certifications will get back at that part…but for my weekly clients? I am full…turning away people because there is only so much time in a day!

I’m grateful I get to do what I do each day. I’m grateful God isn’t done with me yet, and I know He will continue to blow my mind with what He will do as we grow this business together.

Grateful I get to come alongside families and empower students in reading so that they can read God’s word and hear Him speak into their lives…so they can draw closer to Him and know Him deeply.

I am incredibly grateful we serve a God of redemption and today I want to challenge you to look back over your life and remember God’s faithfulness. Look at the story He wrote, and is writing and give Him the glory. Then, ask yourself this question…are you embracing it?

Though this post is part of my story… you have a story too.

May our stories always be for His glory and may He continue to use them in ways we can’t imagine!

Anne Wilson came out with a new song last week that fits this so well. Here are the lyrics and I’ll link the video. My favorite line: “Now the story I love to tell is the story of the One who brought me back from hell.” (Yep, pretty much – AMEN and HALLELUJAH!)

Take a listen and then I encourage you to spend some time in prayer with our Father about your story and how He wants to use it for His glory.

“I’ve gone where the hopeless go
The dead end of a broken road
And I’ve learned there’s a place so low
You can’t see your way out
Been stuck in a ditch so deep
Thought it might be the end of me
But I’m still here and there could only be
One way how

[Chorus]
My life is God story
Gotta tell the world what He’s done for me
Miracles on miracles that only He could do
I’m proof that we’re all only
One prayer away from a testimony
Therе is only One getting all the glory
My wholе life is a — God story

[Verse 2]
From beginning to the end
From who I was to who I am
I can see His fingerprints on every single page
Now the story I love to tell
Is the story of the One who brought me back from hell
From “all wrong” to “it is well”” – Anne Wilson

(C) All Rights Reserved. Susan M. Clabaugh with Encouragement in Daily Living LLC