I love a great story. Don’t you?
Personally, I’m drawn to biographies and autobiographies. I love the truth, the grit, the unexpected turns, and even the messy parts that come from a life that has actually been lived. A good story needs two things: someone who has lived a life worth telling and a writer who can capture the details without changing the truth.
Sometimes I wonder how my own life would read.
Would people make it past the first chapter? Would they find themselves turning the pages, eager to see what happens next? Or would they put the book down halfway through and toss it into a Goodwill box because the story lacked character development and meaningful conflict?
That’s a tough question, but maybe it’s one worth asking.
How is your life unfolding? Are you willing to step into the unknown when God calls you? Are you allowing Him to stretch you, grow you, and lead you into places you never expected to go? Or have you become comfortable with a story that is safe, predictable, and completely under your control?
A few years ago, I realized my story was becoming a little too predictable. So I decided it was time for a change.
The first thing I did was sit down with the Author of my faith. That seemed like a good editorial decision.
“Lord, I don’t think we’re doing a very good job of captivating people with my story. I mean, it’s safe. It’s well written. I know my name is written in heaven. But beyond that, it’s kind of a snoozer. I’m not sure we’re exactly working on a bestseller here.”
Here’s the thing about my Author. He is famous for writing the greatest story ever told.
When He saw me on my knees, willing to surrender my plans and allow Him to write whatever He wanted, He didn’t disappoint.
God knows how to write a life.
He knows when to turn the page. He knows when to introduce a new character, open an unexpected door, close one we thought would remain open, and lead us somewhere we never imagined going. He also knows how every chapter fits into the story He is telling.
Hebrews 12:2 calls Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith.”
That means we don’t have to figure out the entire story ourselves.
Maybe you’ve been holding tightly to a synopsis you wrote years ago. You know what you want your life to look like. You know where you want to live, what you want to accomplish, and how you think the next chapter should unfold.
What if you handed the manuscript to God?
Let Him write the parts you cannot see. Trust Him with the chapters that scare you. Follow Him when the plot takes an unexpected turn.
Your story doesn’t have to look impressive to everyone else. It simply needs to be surrendered to the One who knows how it ends.
So, who is writing your story?
Give God the pen. Then turn the page.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
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Additional Resources
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