What if someone sitting across from you at Thanksgiving dinner is quietly searching for hope?
The holidays bring people together, but they can also magnify loneliness, disappointment, grief, and questions about life’s purpose. And sometimes the people who seem to have everything together are the very ones struggling the most.
That’s why I believe the holiday season offers wonderful opportunities to share the love of Jesus.
But I know what you might be thinking.
“I don’t know what to say!”
“What if they ask a question I can’t answer?”
“I don’t want to make things awkward!”
If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone.
My dear friends and coauthors, Jim and Karen Covell, and I wrote How to Talk About Jesus Without Freaking Out to help Christians overcome those fears. We discovered that sharing your faith doesn’t have to begin with a memorized presentation. It can happen naturally through three simple stories.
1. Their Story
As the saying goes, no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care! Before telling someone about Jesus, take time to get to know them. Ask questions. Listen carefully. Discover what they’re experiencing and what matters most to them. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is give someone your undivided attention.
2. Your Story
When the opportunity arises, share something God has done in your life. It doesn’t have to be dramatic! Perhaps God answered a prayer, carried you through a difficult season, restored a relationship, or gave you peace when everything around you felt uncertain. Your personal experience with God is something no one can take away from you. And your story may be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
3. His Story
When someone expresses interest, you have the opportunity to introduce them to the greatest story ever told—the love of Jesus Christ. You don’t have to know every answer or explain every theological question. You can simply share what Jesus means to you and why His life, death, and resurrection offer hope to everyone who believes in Him. Then allow the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do.
Here’s My Holiday Challenge
This Thanksgiving and Christmas, ask God to place one person on your heart who needs encouragement. Pray for that person. Look for an opportunity to connect. Listen to their story. And if God opens the door, be willing to share yours.
You never know how one simple conversation could change someone’s life—and eternity.
Want to Feel More Confident Sharing Your Faith?
How to Talk About Jesus Without Freaking Out offers practical encouragement for sharing your faith naturally, confidently, and without pressure.
EXPLORE HOW TO TALK ABOUT JESUS WITHOUT FREAKING OUT →
