What voice is interpreting your life?
For many of us, it isn’t God. It’s shame, fear, past failures, religious performance, or the expectations of others. But the gospel announces something radically different: God gets the final word over your story.
In this week’s message at The Gathering in Colorado Springs, Leah Ramirez explored what happens when we stop letting shame and the “human court” narrate our lives—and instead entrust our story to the One who loves us most.
Watch the full sermon here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/QrBAA7KYJMc?si=q-qHLEAjkOyzsjWa
The message carried two intertwined titles:
So many of us live inside an invisible courtroom—where our worth is constantly on trial. We judge ourselves by outcomes, by timing, by how people respond to us, or even by prophetic words we feel responsible to fulfill.
But Scripture invites us into a different courtroom: one where God’s verdict replaces shame’s accusations.
Leah shared vulnerably about coming out of a performance-based faith—high performance in prayer, fasting, and spiritual discipline—and discovering something deeper:
Our foundation is not our effort.
Our foundation is not our consistency.
Our foundation is Christ.
When that foundation begins to shift, we notice something remarkable: situations that once would have crushed us no longer define us. We find ourselves living from a deeper source of peace.
During worship, Leah described an encounter where she saw Jesus on the cross and felt the desire to run to Him—to not let Him suffer alone. But Jesus answered:
“No, Leah. I didn’t want you to die alone. I am dying your death.”
This is the heart of the gospel.
It was never about us reaching for God.
It has always been about God reaching for us.
From Acts 1, we learn that the Holy Spirit gives us power to be witnesses. That word witness is courtroom language—it means someone with firsthand knowledge.
Jesus does not call us marketers, performers, or debaters.
He calls us witnesses.
A witness doesn’t argue.
A witness doesn’t manipulate outcomes.
A witness simply tells the truth:
“This is what happened to me.
This is where Christ met me.
This is what I’ve seen.”
Jesus named Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth—not just as mission fields, but as a map of how God moves through our lives.
God is present in every part of your story—not just the good parts.
From Ephesians 3, we hear this radical truth:
“Every family in heaven and on earth is named by the Father.”
This changes everything. No one is outside God’s family—only separated by a veil of misunderstanding. When we witness to this truth, light begins to break through.
From 1 Corinthians 4, Paul gives us the key to freedom:
“It is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court… I do not even judge myself… It is the Lord who judges me.”
This is not apathy—it is trust.
Paul entrusted the interpretation of his life to the One who loves him.
Leah shared how God met her in a recent moment of misunderstanding and pain—not by fixing everything outwardly, but by freeing her inwardly. That night she wrote just two words:
“I’m free.”
Freedom came when shame lost its authority to interpret her story.
Jesus’ invitation is simple:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Religion measures.
Systems evaluate.
But Jesus gives rest.
He has already finished the work.
Salvation is not something we perform.
It is an awakening to what is already true.
At The Gathering, we practice silence—not to stir something up, but to rest in presence.
If you’ve never tried it, start here:
“Jesus… are You in me?”
And let that be enough.
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Chris Berglund
Leah Ramirez
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