I recently heard a testimony that touched me in many ways. I had just lost a friend in his early 30s and was struggling to understand how someone could be called home at such a young age. Having never lost someone so close, I realized that I was shocked by this loss because it reminded me that we all could die at anytime, that tomorrow is not promised, and the importance of knowing our savior.

In the midst of mourning, I remembered this testimony from another friend at church. He was celebrating the ten-year anniversary of his near death experience. He had been in a car accident and had such severe injuries that it required the doctors to place him in a medically induced coma.

He showed pictures of himself lying in the hospital bed, lifeless and covered with bandages. Cords ran across his body, a monitor analyzed his heart beat, and he laid there as still as a dead body. Standing in front of the church, I would have never guessed that he had gone through such an accident. He showed pictures of his car, crushed and bent like a soda can a child had just stomped on. He is a walking testimony, I thought.

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39

At my friend’s funeral I was reminded of that testimony. It gave me hope, that all was not lost. I began to think about how God have given my other friend life. How he breathed life back into him. That God did not look at age as a premise for who would live and die, but that he was still very much alive and in our midst. That in fact my friend was now alive forever, with God, where he belonged.

This testimony helped me mourn the loss of my friend, and for so many my age it reminded us of God’s faithfulness. It was powerful because of the timing and renewed in us an understanding of God’s power in our lives.

It reminded me of the importance of sharing our testimonies and how our testimonies can be used as a tool for reaching others when they are in despair, celebrating, or mourning like I was.

We Want to Know:

What is your testimony?

What testimony have you heard that helped you in your situation?