1 Peter 3:15–16 — Your testimony can be honest about Jesus and honest about the work still ahead.

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Written and recorded by Angela J. Burkey.

Wednesday, October 21st, 2026. Still here, still healing.

Today's scripture comes from 1st Peter chapter 3 verses 15 and 16. 
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Reflection. 
The testimony sounds finished when the microphone gets turned off. Then the person telling it goes home to their actual life. There may still be a court date. 
A child who isn't ready to talk to them. Panic that comes out of nowhere. That prescription that needs to be refilled, a craving that they didn't expect after such a good week. 
But people in recovery know how much can exist behind. doing better. Sometimes better is real and hard at the same time. Peter tells believers to be ready to explain the hope within them, with gentleness and respect. 
He's writing to people facing suffering. He doesn't ask them to wait until everything feels resolved before they speak. That matters if you've been leaving parts of yourself outside the testimony because you're afraid, afraid of a unfinished life that makes Jesus look bad. 
You can believe he rose from the dead and still have mornings when getting out of bed is hard. You can believe you're forgiven and still need help with shame. You can be grateful for your recovery and be honest that it takes work. 
The person listening may need that honesty. They may have assumed faith was for people who had already stopped struggling. A truthful testimony can sound ordinary. 
Like, Jesus is part of how I'm getting through this. I'm still receiving help, and there are things I'm learning to face. The deepest details can also stay private. 
Living for Christ becomes visible over time. It is there when you tell the truth after years of hiding, when you receive correction, without disappearing, when you admit you need help before things get worse. And sometimes another person asks why, and your answer can include his name, in your own voice, with the unfinished parts still present. 
The hope is real enough to speak about it now. Recovery truth.

My testimony can be honest about Jesus, and honest about the work still ahead. 
Prayer for today.

Jesus, thank you that I can come to you as I am today. I don't want to exaggerate what has changed or dismiss what you've done. 
Give me words that sound like the truth of my life with you. Amen.

Practice. 
Try saying your testimony in the present tense. Jesus gives me hope today, and I am still working through. Let the sentence be honest without including details you want to keep private. 
Journal prompt. What would my testimony sound like if I stopped trying to give it a perfect ending?