The question caught me off guard. I was eating dinner with some English Club students and the man across the table was giving me a curious look. We had been talking about why I wanted to come to Bulgaria and how I had a desire to offer hope to those who felt that there was no hope--people who were seeking for meaning and purpose in life amid pain and struggles.
My immediate response was defensive and a tirade broke out in my head. I know about pain! Haven't I lost loved ones? Haven't I seen and been emotionally impacted by the heartache around me? I shared some of my personal experiences of hopelessness and how I see that Jesus replaces the hopelessness with his promised hope and peace, but his question stuck with me as did my response.
I may not have experienced the same depth of hopelessness or pain that those around me have, but Jesus can identify with them. I do have pain in my life, but isn't sharing Christ far more important that sharing my pain? Yes, I can tell about friendships that don't last, the death of close friends, or other hardships I've had, but ultimately, I cannot share in another's hopelessness like Jesus can.
The question about how I can know about hopelessness distracted me from the real question. The real question is about Jesus. Does He identify with the hopeless? Does He heal hopelessness? Sharing my story should not have been the end of the conversation because it is not the reason the question was asked. My experience of Christ's healing should lead me to tell of His life and death. It is a gospel opportunity.
I'm thankful for the reminder that I am not here to grow my fan base, but to point to the real star: Jesus. He may use my experiences to open the door, but I am called to invite people through the door into the house of the Gospel. Sharing how God has worked in my life is an opportunity to introduce Him, the healer of the hopeless and the promise of a future.