For years I thought my story was mine. It was mine to plan, mine to live, mine to tell about.
And I treated it as such.
Yet although my plan looked great in my mind and on paper, it didn’t play out the way I intended. Not at all.
My story took on far too much drama, generated a great deal of sadness, and read nothing like I had scripted. At the time … in the midst … I wanted to rewrite it.
To have it read more like a love story or even comedy.
To insert more happy endings.
To insist on being its only author.
Yet as I struggled to live this script that’s been handed to me, I realized a few things about my story:
- It isn’t really my story at all. My story belongs to Another who has infinite knowledge, infinite love, and infinite power.
- My story’s purpose is much greater than me.
- My story is worth telling.
Your Story
These are truths for your story as well:
- The Lord writes each of our scripts to ultimately bring us goodness and Himself glory. Your story won’t always be the one you want, but it’s the one God’s written just for you. And it’s good! [←Tweet this.]
- If your story is really God’s story, then it has a specific purpose in a bigger story. And each part, each chapter, each scene of a story matters.
- Your story, whatever it may look like, is worth living and worth telling because it offers hope to the hopeless. It builds bridges and makes connections. It presents grace to those who are mired in the muck of sin and brokenness. It points to something beyond the troubles of this day.
My Story, His Story
Through the drama, the sadness, and the unexpected detours, I’ve learned how to enjoy this different story–this story that’s been given to me to steward well.
It’s a script God drafted just for me that, in the end, holds far more joy than any love story or comedy I could have written.
It’s a story that, although often hard, is guaranteed to have a happy ending.
It’s a story that, through the grace found in those painful moments, offers the most growth for me, the most impact to others, and ultimately, the most glory to God.
My story … it’s really God’s story.
But it’s one I’m privileged to live out.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim
that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe
and has gathered them from the lands—
from the east and the west,
from the north and the south.” Psalm 107:1-3
Reflections: Have you recognized the real Author of your story? What scenes in your story point to Him? Where is the grace in the story you’re living out?
I’m thrilled to link up with Holley Gerth for Coffee for Your Heart on Wednesday and Suzie Eller for #livefree Thursday and this week’s prompt, “My story is….” I love these special linkups. They provide an abundance of great inspiration and encouragement all in one place. Click on the images below to check them out.
By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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Hey friend, thank you for sharing your story (God’s story written through you). I’m grateful you joined in #livefreeThursday. <3
Love the topic, Suzie.
Julie, what a wonderful reminder that our story is not our own! It’s the one God has written especially for each of us…and it’s GOOD! Amen! Enjoyed this post today at #LiveFreeThursday!
Thank you, Ellen. In the midst of the hard it is easy to lose sight of His goodness.
I am most grateful to have been your neighbor today at Coffee for Your Heart. It is amazing how our God intersects the stories of our lives with His story. It is at that very intersection, our lives make the most impact for His glory. And our lives experience the greatest purpose and satisfaction. Blessings!
“God intersects the stories of our lives with His story. It is at that very intersection, our lives make the most impact for His glory.” Love the visual of intersecting with God!
“Guaranteed a happy ending.” I love that! Your entire post is so right. I want to be the only author- often! Thanks so much for these reminders today. I needed them:)
Grateful it blessed you, Krisine. It’s likely a reminder we all need (whether we realize it or not). 🙂
Oh yes, the story God is writing is so much better than the one we would have written for ourselves. Not as easy, but much more beautiful.
Definitely, Betsy!
Have I recognized the eal Author of my story? Yes,and I see Him every day.
What scenes point to Him? I trust all scenes do.
Where is the grace in the story I am living out? As I see it, the grace is THAT I am living it out.
Wow, Cecelia, what a powerful statement and right on!