This post was hard for me to write, to find the words that would explain exactly what was put on my heart this week. It feels like it could sift through my hands like grains of sand as I try to shape my thoughts into something solid and essential.
I was watching a sermon online where someone was sharing their testimony on how God healed them and the journey they went on. I felt that because I’ve been there too. God has healed me of things, not supernaturally, but He gave me the tools to get through it. And I’m so thankful for that. As I went about my day, I couldn’t shake this thought: why don’t we ever hear stories about the things we haven’t seen answered in an extraordinary way on the church stage?
The mother’s pleas and cries for her child that never got answered the way she begged.
The healing from a sickness that never came to fruition, and instead, grief rolled on in.
The financial situation you’ve trusted God to handle, and ten years later, you’re still struggling to pay a bill without stress.
The family separation that still has not been restored.
The addictions that still hold us even when we’ve cried out for help, for the chains to come off once and for all.
The mental illness that is a fight every day when all you want is to have that renewed mind you’ve spoken over yourself daily.
The identity crisis or same-sex attractions that become a lifelong struggle for many and aren’t talked about in the buildings…
And I ask myself the question: Are all these things not worthy to be told because they are too uncomfortable to hear?
There are so many stories here that are real, present, and raw, and yet… we never see them shared or talked about from the pulpit. And I want to hear them because, to me, they are still testimonies.
They are the real-world human experiences of issues and circumstances that we don’t always see logical answers to. We feel that because they haven’t been answered in the way we hoped, somehow we don’t have faith, or God simply said, “Nope, I’m not helping you here.” As if He’s left us in the pain, the grief, the struggle—each of us with a broken heart and questions.
But here we are… with faith that still whispers to Him. A hope that someday it will all make sense. And I need to be okay with the fact that some journeys will become fulfilled, transformative testimonies to others, and some… will never be fully answered.
But I want to hear them. I want to listen to those who talk about the greatest struggles in their lives and simply end with… “My story isn’t resolved. I’m still walking through it, but I’m holding onto Jesus’ hem.” The truth is what gives me hope that I’m not the only one still waiting on answers to prayers. But it also brings me hope that God, in all of His holy wonder, hasn’t left us alone in the world. I am not the only person still waiting, yet trusting and standing on the truth that He is good.
I pray with my whole heart this piece made sense. I know many will feel this, and a few will feel uncomfortable. Either way, it’s okay. Different topics stir different people. That’s the beauty of our diverse experiences and the unique paths we walk. Sometimes, it’s in the uncomfortable spaces that we find the deepest connections and the most profound truths.
Let’s embrace these unspoken stories, the unresolved testimonies, and the feeling of unanswered prayers, knowing that they are part of the rich tapestry of our faith journeys. Together, let’s hold each other up, share our burdens, and find solace in the truth that we are not alone.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Stay blessed, Sparrows, and keep holding on. Keep sharing ❤️ love Sarah x.
*Thank you for sticking with me and valuing my words. I know it’s a little messy here at Little Sparrow Loved. I could post once a week or three times a week. I roll with the promptings. Please keep sharing, commenting, check out my books, shop or even think about becoming a supporter of my writing.
This may be the very reason we are losing so many people in church: inauthenticity. Yes, it is uncomfortable to speak and hear our mutual struggles. We do have a victorious Lord, but it is messy, not everyone gets healed or has their financial or relational issues resolved. Do we still love and trust? Part of being the Church is caring for each other, and if we don’t share our struggles with each other, how can we do that? So yes, 100% I agree.
Yes!!!! This! Beautiful and rich with grace. I recently told my sister as we talked about healings. My words were..,, what if Gods glory is revealed in the unanswerable. What if how we walk out our struggles with faith in God even in the unanswered is the testimony that speaks the loudest.