His Story or Yours?
[bl]T[/bl]he stories God writes are better than the ones we choose or act or pen. Breathing and speaking creation into existence. Who else could think of that? A huge ark to save an intentional part of creation while he wiped the earth clean from sin and godlessness. Only the one who created it all could have done such a thing. An elderly couple giving birth to a child. Plagues that show an earthly ruler who is most powerful and just. Wandering a people through a desert to shape their faith and prepare the world for its redemptive future. Asking a faithful man to marry an adulterous women, that his people would come to see their broken relationship with the One who loves them most. The belly of a whale that holds a man. Opening the womb of a young woman to carry the life that would save all life. Choosing fishermen to walk beside the Savior. And a persecutor of Christians to be of the first to tell his story. A resurrection that shows the world that death leads to life.
Who else could write these stories that really tell one story? Who else can take such brokenness and make it tell of his goodness?
Who’s writing your story? You? Are you making decisions and taking paths that lead to the places you want to go? Your culture? Are the patterns and expectations of the place you live shaping where you go and who you become? Or are you submitting to the ways of God? To the people and places he lays before you that your story might tell his story. Not the American story. Or the education story. Or the pursuit of happiness story. Or the risk free story of safety and health.
Adoption. Serving the poor with food and love and relationship. Raising 13 girls in another country. Choosing simplicity over consumption and indulgence. Abandoning the dreams of one culture in order to embrace another. Depending on Jehovah Jireh for provision, rather than our systems of power and health and money. Spring breaks spent at orphanages, rather than the beach. Creating and educating communities about worldwide problems like hunger and orphaned children. Choosing to stay committed even though you have every reason to leave. Seeking reconciliation, when the easiest thing is to avoid the problem. Leaving your door open even though it’s quieter and safer with it closed. Crossing boundaries instead of creating them. Speaking thankfulness in the midst of suffering. These are not the stories of men. This is the living, breathing eternal story of God using his people to bring about his redemptive intentions on earth.
Consider with me today the kind of story you’re living. The hands that are writing it. The possible endings it will have. Make yourself available to the author and perfector of your faith. And he will write for you a beautiful story. Or possibly a dangerous story. A love story. An inspiring story. Or a funny story. A surprising story. But always a redemptive story.
Surrender yourself to the words and life of Jesus.
