Imagine hearing a testimony here!

Augie delivered beer. It was his job.

Augie met Jesus personally. It was his greatest joy.

Augie had a testimony and when not telling it, he would be singing it while driving his delivery truck, in the shower and occasionally inside the supermarket cooler while loading beer from the back.

Imagine opening the door to grab a six pack and hearing a guy enthusiastically singing about the effects of Jesus in his life. It happened frequently. It was a testimony coming from a strange place.

Stephen’s impassioned testimony of his faith was given while surrounded by hateful men with rocks in their hands and murder on their minds. (Acts 7) It was a testimony in a strange setting.

The three Hebrews gave evidence of their faith with a roaring furnace of fire so close that it overwhelmed even their captors. (Daniel 34) It was a strong testimony in a strange environment.

Paul and Silas sang their declaration of victory from a moldy inner dungeon … their feet anchored in stocks. (Acts 16). It was strange headwaters for a testimony.

Teen-ager David proclaimed God’s ability to deliver before it actually happened while standing before a sneering giant almost twice his size. (I Samuel 17) A strange time and place to testify.

Testimonies extolling God and his care, provision and love given when there was little evidence of it. Words spoken based on faith, not facts seen at the moment. Testimonies given ‘before the fact’ – not just after it.

Those kinds of testimonials can be given when the bank account is bottoming out, the baby is still sick, the job hasn’t materialized and the future appears to have more clouds than sunny skies in it. They are words of faith based on what we know … not what we see. And the circumstances don’t diminish their value, it increases it.

So does your situation warrant a testimony? Even when it isn’t what you were expecting? Absolutely. For although you may not know everything, you know enough to be confident.

Job said, “I know my redeemer lives,” and “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.” Job 19:25/42:1 New Living Translation

David said, “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” Psalm 16:8 New Living Translation

The Apostle Paul said, “I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” II Timothy 1:12 New Living Translation

And regarding our ultimate future John said, “ …we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” I John 3:2 KJV

When you know these things, you don’t have to save your testimony for a sunny day!