Influence is a word we hear a lot these days. In fact, most people probably equate an influencer as someone on social media who has the ability to persuade others to spend money for certain products or maybe to persuade someone politically or socially.

According to today’s standards, the more followers you have online, the more influence you have.

But the truth is, we don’t need a big stage or a social media following to be an influence.  

It can be as simple as sharing our story with our neighbor, a friend, or even someone sitting in a waiting room with us. We can tell the story of what the Lord has done in our life.  And it doesn’t have to be rainbows and sprinkles with a fairy tale ending for it to be impactful.  In fact, it is in the vulnerability and the mess that others can find a place to relate and connect.

In the scriptures, we read the story of the Samaritan woman who Jesus met at the well.  This woman had a past that included 5 husbands and a man she was currently living with that was not her husband.  That can be scandalous in this day and time, so imagine how that must have been back then!  I can only imagine the pain and the shame she brought with her to the well that day.

But Jesus ministered to her and spoke to her about living water that He gives….explaining to her that if she drank of that water, she would not thirst again.  Jesus knew of her past and did not condemn her.  She was amazed at all that He told her and her life was instantly changed.  And what was her response?  She ran back to her town, no longer walking with her head bowed low in shame, but boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus.

John 4:29-30; 39  “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him….Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony…”

This woman and her unsavory past become an unlikely influencer in her hometown of Samaria.  And many came to believe in Jesus because of her story.

I wonder how many lives out there are waiting to believe in Him because of our story of God’s faithfulness in our life? 

I know that it can be scary to share, but maybe you can start with one person and just tell them what God has done and is doing in your life.  You don’t even have to be on the other side of it to share it.  Your testimony can be even more impactful when people see you walking out your faith and continuing to trust in God, knowing you did not get the outcome you were hoping and praying for.

Pray about it and just start somewhere.  And when you do share, know that what the enemy meant for evil, God will use for our good and for His glory.