Can I Get Over My Fear of Being Honest About My Story? [Episode 83 With Jackie Hill Perry]

Have you ever felt typecast into one story? Oh, girl, I sure have.

If you’ve been listening to the 4:13 Podcast for long, you know that I’m blind. Well, with blindness, I’ve struggled with feeling pigeonholed over the years.

Jennifer Rothschild, she’s blind. She’s got one story. Right?

God’s hands are on your story for His glory. [Click to Tweet]

At some points, I’ve even felt resentful. I’ve thought, “Oh, God, you’ve done so much more than just this one story.”

But the Lord’s slowly humbled me. He’s helped me realize that it’s what He’s done within this story—the one I don’t want to tell … the one I get tired of telling—that brings Him glory. And that’s why I need to share it.

Maybe you’re reluctant to tell parts of your story too. If fear’s held you back from being honest, Jackie Hill Perry’s on the 4:13 Podcast to encourage you.

Jackie grew up fatherless and experienced gender confusion. She made some harmful choices during her teenage years. Most of her story would be rated PG-13, that’s for sure.

The bad things are what make the good things great things—and God wants glory from that part of your story. [Click to Tweet]

But, at age 19, she came face-to-face with what it meant to be made new. God broke in and turned her heart towards Him right in her bedroom. God’s hand is all over her story for His glory.

Today, Jackie’s a writer, artist, and speaker who’s the author of Gay Girl, Good God. Since leaving a lifestyle of homosexuality, Jackie’s felt compelled to share the gospel through poems that have reached over one million views on YouTube. She also signed to Humble Beast Records and released her debut album, The Art of Joy, in 2014.

Jackie serves as Female Mentorship Coordinator at Grip Outreach for Youth in Chicago. And, at home, she’s known as wife to Preston Perry and mommy to Eden Grace.

And, today, she’s telling that story plus showing you how you can be honest about your own story, no matter what it’s rated!

How You Can Be Honest About Your Story

  • Accept that your story is what God allowed it to be. Jackie says that because God is sovereign, our stories are what He allowed them to be. She understands this might hurt to hear if you’ve experienced trauma, suffering, or pain—as she did as a child. But she says you can have hope knowing that God was just as much in control of your story before you met Christ as He is after you met Christ.

    And, if you’re wrestling with how a good God can allow bad things to happen, I understand. There are hard things in our lives that don’t make sense and invite a lot of questions. But, no matter what your story holds, God hasn’t missed seeing you throughout it. He’s been with you when you’re most afraid, most shaken, and most alone. So, keep asking Him your questions. He may not always be the God you expect, but He’ll always be the God you need.

  • Realize God’s hands are on your story for His glory. Jackie talks about how most people don’t understand change until they recognize who you used to be. She says, “I think in our culture, people don’t believe the gospel actually works. So, for us to communicate the power of the gospel—not even just that Jesus saves, but that Jesus sanctifies—we have to speak the unsanctified parts of our stories.”

    Jackie explains that the bad things are what make the good things great things—and God wants glory from that part of your story. He wants His redemption and how He’s changed you to be seen.

  • Determine to love your neighbor more than your comfort. Telling your story can be uncomfortable and scary. But Jackie says that God hasn’t given us “a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).

    She shares that it’s the love part of this verse that helps you and I be willing to feel uncomfortable. When you love others enough to tell them the hard parts of your story, it helps them see Jesus better.

Sister, God can use your story, even the hard parts of it, to share the good news of Jesus. So, let’s go for it!

And remember whatever your story, however you feel about sharing it, you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

Related Resources

Jennifer’s Frozen Yogurt Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 quart Greek vanilla yogurt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. I haven’t tried this yet, but you can also add a fruit-flavored jam. I’ve heard that’s yummy!
  • Next, pour your mixture into your ice cream maker per your machine’s instructions. In my ice cream maker, it takes about 20 minutes.
  • Enjoy!

Books and Bible Studies by Jennifer Rothschild

More from Jackie Hill Perry

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