Everyone Has a Story

The Worship Night That Shifted My Perspective

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

—Wendy Mass

I wasn’t expecting much. I had just wrapped up a long day at work and had worship night penciled into my calendar like any other Friday event. The plan was simple: pick up a friend, drive over, attend worship night, connect a bit, and head home. But God had something far more meaningful in store.

We arrived early—thanks to an overestimation of Friday night traffic—and quietly walked into our friend’s house. Snacks were laid out, friendly faces offered smiles and hugs, and conversations fluttered around the room. I took my usual aisle seat near the back—close enough to engage, but with a quick escape route if I needed the bathroom. (Aisle seat logic, always.)

But as the night unfolded, it wasn’t the snacks, songs, or seating that left an imprint on my soul—it was the stories. Real, raw, redemptive stories. And they reminded me of one truth I often forget:

Everyone carries a story.

Some just haven’t had the chance—or the safety—to tell it.

Unfolding Testimonies: When Lives Speak Louder Than Words

The room settled as worship began—voices blending in sweet harmony, lifting prayers like incense. Then came the testimonies. Three people. Three different lives. Three glimpses of God’s power at work.

The first was Geraldine, though I must admit, I missed recording her full story. But Peter and Candace—oh, how their testimonies unraveled something deep in me.

Peter spoke of darkness. Not metaphorical darkness, but real, diagnosed schizophrenia. A spiral into addiction, isolation, and torment so deep it nearly consumed him. Yet here he was—calm, composed, and speaking clearly about the grace that found him. His story reminded me of the man in the tombs in Mark 5—the one tormented and cast aside by society until Jesus stepped in and restored him to his right mind.

“Come and see what God has done, His awesome deeds for mankind!”

—Psalm 66:5

Then came Candace. Her story was filled with pain—childhood abuse, emotional scars, and suicidal thoughts that almost ended it all. One line from her testimony struck me deeply. She said:

“I remember telling my therapist… maybe they should’ve just aborted me. Maybe that would’ve spared me all this pain.”

Hearing those words from someone who now radiates light and compassion stopped me in my tracks. Her journey from deep brokenness to spiritual healing is a living testament to God’s redemptive love.

Soul Insights

1. We Never Know the Whole Story

People are excellent at smiling through pain. You never know what they’ve endured unless they let you in—or unless you’re willing to listen.

2. Stories Heal and Connect Us

When someone shares their testimony, it’s not just for them—it’s for everyone in the room. It reminds us that healing is possible and that we are not alone in our struggles.

3. Lead With Curiosity, Not Assumptions

Rather than judging people’s reactions or behaviors, ask: What might this person be carrying? That shift in perspective opens the door to compassion.

4. Healing Takes Time

Peter and Candace didn’t get here overnight. God works in layers, and healing isn’t a straight line—it’s a sacred process, one step at a time.

5. Grace is Daily

I had to repent today for a fleeting thought of frustration toward someone who honked at me. Grace isn’t just for the big moral moments—it’s for the everyday ones too.

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

—1 Samuel 16:7

Reflections: The Kaleidoscope of Humanity

At one point during the night, I imagined the room as a giant kaleidoscope—each person a shard of color, each life adding to the beautiful, complex pattern. We’re all walking around with a mosaic of experiences, shaping how we love, how we protect ourselves, how we respond to pain.

And that’s why kindness matters so much.

“To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks, but a special heart that listens.”

—F. Scott Fitzgerald

We rush. We judge. We get caught in our own bubbles. But stories—testimonies—remind us that behind every face is a soul that’s been through something. And many are doing their best to carry it all quietly.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

—Galatians 6:2

Final Thoughts: Be a Safe Place

We are all walking stories—some stitched with sorrow, others with healing, all with hope. So if you see someone today, offer them gentleness instead of judgment. Because their story might be the very one that could shift your own.

A Question To Take With You

Who in your life might be carrying a story you haven’t heard yet?

This week, create space to ask, to listen, and to love.

It might just change you.

Soul Path Insights