The Story Shame Told You to Hide

Send us Fan Mail There are parts of our stories we’re comfortable telling. And then there are the parts we hope nobody ever asks about. The things we’ve done. The things that have been done to us. The seasons we’re not proud of. The mistakes we made. The things we believed about ourselves for far too long. Those are usually the parts shame tells us to keep quiet. But I’ve learned that sometimes the story you’re most hesitant to tell is the one that makes someone else finally say, “Me too. I thought I was the only one.” In this episode of Well-Made Woman, I’m talking about why our stories matter and what my husband and I learned when we stood in front of a room full of people and shared some of the hardest parts of our marriage. It was uncomfortable and vulnerable, but afterward we understood why telling the truth about where we had been mattered so much. We’re also talking about what a testimony actually is, because it doesn’t have to be dramatic, and you don’t have to wait until everything in your life is fixed before you have something worth sharing. It can be as simple as: Where was I? Where did Jesus meet me? And what am I learning now? You don’t owe everyone every part of your story. There are things that are private, and wisdom matters when deciding what to share and with whom. But there is freedom in being able to look at something from your past and say, “Yes, that happened. It’s part of my story. But it doesn’t get to tell me who I am.” And maybe one day, the part you once wished you could erase will allow you to sit across from another woman and say, “I’ve been there too. Let me tell you what I learned.” Sometimes people don’t need someone with all the answers. They just need to know they’re not alone. Thank you for spending this time with me today. If this episode spoke to your heart, would you share it with another woman who needs to hear it? And if you haven’t already, leave a review—it helps this podcast reach more women who are searching for hope. You can connect with me on Instagram @itsmandypenn for encouragement, resources, and updates on new episodes. Until next time, remember: you don’t have to hold everything together to be held by God. Keep becoming the well-made woman He created you to be.