Abundance, and a Hope, Future

Your Story. God’s Glory.

BY KELLY WILLIAMS HALE

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. (Romans 8:28 TPT)

“We can’t heal what we don’t reveal,” I said to the women gathered at the quaint southern bistro in Franklin, North Carolina, on September 18, 2021. I was invited by my friend, April, to share a message at her monthly Ladies’ Day meeting, and we were wrapping up. April and I had been trying to get together for years, and when she asked if I’d be interested in speaking at her event, I immediately said yes. This would be a perfect opportunity to visit with her and share a message from my heart with her friends.

I knew exactly what I would talk about. I recently submitted the final draft of a chapter I had written for Victories: Claiming Freedom in Christ, a book published by Women World Leaders in November of that year. The women at this gathering would be the first to hear about a time in my life I had kept buried for twenty-seven years. To say I was anxious would be an understatement. There are moments in our life that become core memories. This would become one of mine.

I stood before that beautiful group of women and shared my story: a time in my life I had never verbalized, much less in such a public setting. As I began telling the women my experience, I began sobbing. I could barely articulate what would soon be available to the world.

You see, I had an abortion.

In front of a room full of strangers, I spoke out loud the secret I had been carrying for years. I ended a pregnancy on purpose. I was a divorced, single mother with a seven-year-old at the time. In a financial mess, I was sleeping on a friend’s couch in a very small studio apartment while my daughter lived with her aunt. I’d only known the baby’s father for a few months. He also had a daughter and told me he was divorced. I found out later that he was still married.

My story is not unique. After I spoke that day, several women came up to me and said, “Your story is my story.” “I had an abortion too.” “Honey, you are not alone.” The women in that room were so gracious and accepting. I could feel the shame and guilt I had carried all those years literally fall off my shoulders. As I wiped away the tears, a sense of peace filled my soul. I was free.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

IT TAKES COURAGE TO SHARE OUR EXPERIENCE.

After sharing the pain and trauma of ending my pregnancy, I received the revelation that the enemy has no power over me. In my weakness, grace found me. As Paul writes the Lord’s promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness” (TPT).

There was always a part of me that felt like God couldn’t use me because of my past—that the decisions I made disqualified me. My sin kept me from fully stepping into the plans God had for me. But you see, He already knew. He knew that I would fall short. He knew I would hide. Yes, I am 100% responsible for my actions, as we all are. But we cannot allow our past mistakes to keep us from accepting God’s gift of grace.

THERE IS A NEED FOR AUTHENTICITY IN OUR WALK WITH THE LORD.

It’s easy to think that our sin is too big or too much for God to forgive. We may feel like we are so far from God that we need a telescope to find Him. But He hasn’t left. He is patiently waiting for us. What the enemy meant for evil, God can truly use for good (Genesis 50:20). He takes our mess and creates a message—a message that may be ugly and seemingly unforgivable, but a message of forgiveness and hope.

Maybe you’re wondering, How can God use me? Satan wants us to believe that we are too messed up, damaged, or unworthy for God to use us. But God says we are loved, chosen, and forgiven. We all have a story. One of my mantras is, Be Brave. It takes courage to share our experience. When we step out and share our story, it may not be perfect. But we are not called to perfection. God wants us to be obedient and to trust Him.

There is a need for authenticity in our walk with the Lord. Now, more than ever, we must be real and transparent with our experience. It’s time to activate the power we hold through the wisdom we’ve gained. The world needs your message of hope and love, pointing others to God.

BE BRAVE.

I love the story of Esther. She hid her background from King Xerxes because her uncle instructed her to do so (Esther 2:10). What I find interesting is that she served the king for five years before she was called to save her people. Five years! I can only imagine the conversations she may or may not have had with the other women in the harem because of her secret. What we do know is that it took courage for her to speak up. It was against the law to appear before the king without an invitation. Her decision to approach King Xerxes was brave. She appealed to the king to spare her people, and we are still talking about her today! Her story mattered, and yours does, too.

Kelly Williams Hale is an author, speaker, and coach. Through inner healing and intimacy work, Kelly teaches women how to get past proving their worth and how to fall in love with God. You are invited to join her Facebook community—Sisters Who Shine— for inspiration, encouragement, and support. She can also be reached at thebebravelife@gmail.com.