Share your Story

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 NLT

In a story titled “Runner shares motivation behind wanting to reach finish line at Boulderthon” published Wednesday by CBS Colorado, Amy Goeckel, a runner and tech worker in Denver, said she is looking to run her second half marathon at Boulderthon. "I'm really looking forward to getting her done a lot faster this year," Goeckel explained. Running 13.1-miles is something she physically couldn't have done a few years ago. "I am recovering from a 16-year battle with bulimia," Goeckel said. The battle required Goeckel to dig deep and access a deep well of inner strength. "I was in a very bad head space for a long time," she said. It's a journey she shares on her podcast, Eating Disorder Diaries. “Too many people suffer in silence," she commented. Goeckel started the podcast in March. She interviews experts and has frank conversations with her friends and family. She's reached people all over the world. "My hope is that by my talking about it, it will break the stigma and help others grow," Goeckel explained.

And you know, when it comes to going through struggles and long-term battles, the story of Joseph clearly illustrates that good can come out of every story when we trust God and continue to follow Him despite the hardships along our journey. Betrayed by his brothers and falsely accused of rape, Joseph experienced times of deep suffering before he was eventually elevated to the position of second-in-command over Egypt—a position that allowed him to use his God-given skills and experiences to save the nation and his family from famine, telling his brothers “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” 

So don’t ever be afraid to talk about what you’ve been through my friend. In fact, pray for opportunities to do it! Too many people suffer in silence because believers fail to share their personal testimony of the power of God in their lives—a simple act that could be the very thing that leads to another person’s recovery. You see, our stories are proof that the Lord can turn everything the enemy meant for evil into something good…. and proves that, with God, there can be a happy ending to every story. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You can and will use all our broken pieces to form us into something beautiful if we would only give them to You. Lord, help us to be bold in sharing our stories with others so they would know that they are not alone and that there is a God who can heal every wound, cure every illness, and cause good to come out of every situation. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!