Your Story

Like it or not, each day your life is writing a story. Our stories can be filled with lots of drama, mystery, romance, or suspense. (So often, our stories are consumed with all of those.) But, it's important to be aware that behind every story . . . there's a Storyteller. When we come to realize that we're NOT to take the role of Storyteller, we can more readily accept our role and play the part we were intended to live out. Our story has been chosen by an Almighty loving God and He uses each chapter of our lives to complete a story that will bring Him glory. 

But, it's those chapters of our lives we'd like to skip over or maybe rip out of the book that can cause us undue torment. It's those words said and deeds done that we'd like to erase from the story. But we can't. It's written in ink, not pencil. But with God, ALL THINGS are possible. Through forgiveness, He allows us to begin again. He casts our sin as far as the east is from the west and as far as He's concerned, those pages don't exist. Yet, we're walking in the same life, with a different story. He asks us to trust Him and begin again. And sometimes, we have to walk out a chapter . . . one that brings pain, suffering, and great misery. Jesus walked through those chapters, we're certainly far less worthy than Him. He walked through those chapters, so that we would see how it is it should be done. He showed us how to play the part of a trusting, faithful, servant of God. What you'll find is that it's those VERY Chapters you want to rip out that will ultimately create the dramatic, powerful, and redemptive ending that the Storyteller has written for your life.

If you find yourself in a story that causes you to want to close the book, keep these things in mind:
(from "Same Life, New Story" by Jan Silvious)

1) You are not the author of this story. God is.
He knows the end from the beginning. He knows you didn't volunteer to be a character in this story, but for some reason residing deep in the mystery of His heart and brimming with wonder of His love, you have been chosen to live this story.

2) Don't fall for the line that "God knew He could trust you,"
that is why you have been cast into and incredible story that requires wisdom and courage to write. This is nothing about trusting you. This is about God moving in ways that require YOU TO TRUST HIM!
This is not about YOUR strength. This is about HIS strength!

3) The wisdom you reqire will be given.
It is not innate.
When you are in the middle of a story that requires wisdom, it has to come from above. It cannot be just what you think is the best thing to do.
(James 3:13-18)

4) Recognize your need for courage to accompany the wisdom you receive.
You will probably have to do something so unfamiliar to the way you have thought or so difficult that you will not be able to pull it off on your own.

5) Rememeber, you are not going through anything others have not gone through before.
They have found courage and wisdom, so can you. The scenes may be different, but the basic stories are the same. In a strange sort of way, there is great comfort in this. (1 Corinthians 10:13)


As God has guided me, protected me, and loved me unconditionally
through the chapters of my life,
I have so often heard the Spirit whisper gently,
"God is the author and finisher
of your faith . . . let Him write."