When we’re trying to help others, it’s natural to offer advice, share practical strategies, or point people toward helpful resources. Those things are valuable and often necessary—but they’re also one step removed from your own experience.
Sometimes, the most impactful thing you can offer is your story.
It’s not easy to share your journey, with all its imperfections, hardships, and lessons learned along the way. It takes courage and vulnerability. But in exchange for this vulnerability, you can give the gift of real connection and hope that healing is possible.
In the years following our own marriage crisis, we began sharing our story more openly and honestly, and something incredible happened.
Couple after couple told us how much our story encouraged them, gave them hope, and helped them navigate challenges in their own marriages. We realized that our greatest qualification wasn’t having a perfect marriage. It was being willing to honestly share what God had done through our imperfect one.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How even stories with “bad” endings can offer others hope
- Some of the benefits of sharing your story
- The byproduct of sharing honestly and vulnerably with others
- And more!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Prefer to watch this episode? You can now view and subscribe to our YouTube.
- A 4-Step Roadmap for Healing from Infidelity and Broken Trust
- No More Perfect Marriages–A 10 Day Blog Series
- [BOOK] Better Together
- How to Have a Safe Conversation | #MarriageMonday
- Free Rebuilding Trust Roadmap
- Start Here – Certified Marriage Coach or Mentor Info Session
- Creating 2.0 Marriages Coaches Course
- As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.
Our Key Takeaways:
1) Everyone’s story is useful. Just because your story didn’t turn out the way you thought or hoped it would doesn’t disqualify you from encouraging others. God never wastes our experience; he can use what we have been through to help others. Regardless of whether your story ended with completed reconciliation and healing or broken relationships, you can share your story honestly with others to offer counsel and help in their time of need.
2) By sharing our stories, we can reduce isolation. When we are going through difficult circumstances, it’s easy to be consumed by the feeling that we are completely alone and that nothing will ever get better. We don’t know where to turn or what step we should take next. When someone shares their story, it’s a reminder that we are not alone. That person alleviates our feelings of isolation by communicating that they’ve walked through the storm we’re weathering and made it out on the other side.
3) Your story can help others navigate similar circumstances. When we were walking through our marriage crisis, we needed people who had been there before us. You don’t need a perfect marriage or a counseling degree to make a difference. Your story, including both the struggles and the lessons learned, may be exactly what another couple needs to help heal their marriage.
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