Vital Signs: Sunday, May 11, 2025

Before Jesus: Why Your Story Still Matters

“Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers… He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.”—Acts 9:1–2 (NLT)

Everyone’s “pre-Jesus” days look different. Maybe you chased anything that gave you a quick high—ignoring how it affected your soul or the people around you. Maybe you were like me: you knew of Jesus, maybe attended church off and on, and believed in your head that He was real… but your heart hadn’t fully surrendered. Or maybe you met Jesus as a child and can’t even remember life without Him. No matter where your journey started, your story matters.

In God’s Kingdom, there’s no “ranking” of testimonies. There’s no gold medal for the “most dramatic rescue.” Whether you stumbled into faith after years of rebellion or grew into it slowly over time, God cherishes your story. It’s not a competition—it’s a celebration of His grace.

Take the Apostle Paul. Before becoming one of the greatest messengers of the Gospel, he was literally hunting down Christians. He was a persecutor and even a murderer. If God could redeem that, He can redeem anything. Your past doesn’t scare Him—it prepares the stage for His power to be revealed.

Still, looking back can stir up feelings of shame. But shame is never from God. Jesus didn’t die to keep you locked in regret. He died to forgive, to free, and to transform.

The truth is, before we met Jesus, most of us were trying to fill a void—seeking peace, identity, or purpose in anything but Him. But only Jesus satisfies. Only His love fills the gap we couldn’t fix.

Telling the “before” part of your story may be uncomfortable. It’s raw. It’s vulnerable. But when you share it, you shine a light on just how far God’s grace has carried you. He gets the glory, and others get the hope.

Today’s Encouragement:

Be honest with yourself and with God about what your life was like before Him. Then ask God to give you boldness and grace to share that part of your story when the time is right.