Indlela (okungesiyo) Yokusindisa Umhlaba: Iqiniso Ngokudalula Uthando LukaNkulunkulu Kubantu Abaseduze KwakhoIsampula

How (Not) to Save the World: Silence Your Story

The first Chinese woman I ever saw preach was me. For years I was not proud of my heritage and did my best to hide that I was half Chinese. Being multiracial, and Chinese only being one-half of me, I tried to bury that half as best as I could. I had never seen the last name “Wong” on a conference bill before, so during my early years of performing spoken word on the road, I went by the pen name Hosanna Poetry. I’m embarrassed to admit that I was afraid that being Asian would be a roadblock in my career. I hated sticking out. Though I was speaking about Jesus as best and as truthfully as I could, I was working extra hard to leave the truth of my story out of it.

I did not understand what it meant that I was made in God’s image. Does that just mean that God made me? That part I understood. And yet I had always felt an internal sense that there was something flawed, inadequate, and second-rate about me. As I faithfully studied God’s Word I learned that I was living in shame of who I was and I was silencing my story in order to be accepted. And that’s how (not) to save the world. The enemy wants us to believe the lie that we are not enough, that our background is not enough, and that our story is not enough, because he knows that there is power in us being who we are, and sharing our real stories. When you cover up who you are, you cover up God’s design and God’s power.

Being made in God’s image means we have been set apart from every other creature. God’s own image is stamped on us and within us. Value flows through our veins. No other created thing can take away what the ultimate Creator has designed us with. This truth changes how we see ourselves and how we see others. 

The truth is that you are made in God’s image. You not only have access to know Him but authority given by Him to make Him known. You not only have the permission but the responsibility to use all you are and all you’ve been through to glorify Him and reveal His love to the people right next to you.

I have learned that being a woman, multiracial, and the kid of a recovered addict actually helps me reveal the truth about Jesus. The things I wanted to hide were the things God wanted to use to expose who He is and what He can do. I’m supposed to be more of who I am, not less. I don’t want the Enemy to have victory through our shame and our silence any longer. The details of your life are doors, not walls. They can help you invite people into the story of a redeeming Savior. God wants to use your real story to reveal His real power. God’s image must be seen, and His power must be exposed.

Respond

What victory does the enemy have if we all believe the lie that we don’t have value, and that we should silence our stories?

What parts of your story do you have a difficult time seeing God use?

What has stood in the way of you sharing your story?