God is writing a beautiful story through your life and family. Your story is a small part of His bigger story that is at play in the world.
I know that in my life, there’s a story being written that I don’t fully control or always understand. My story is full of uncertainties. I’m sure you have similarities in your story as well.
However, when we begin to view our story through the lens of God’s, it begins to shift our perspective. We get to live the story, but God gets to hold the pen. This provides great peace for those who believe this truth. (Psalm 18:30, Romans 8:28)
This understanding involves multiple elements, including:
CONTROL
I’ve been given limited control over my story. Yes, there are things only I can do to ensure my story gets written with fewer regrets. I can pray. I can choose the person I want to be daily through my actions and reactions. God has given me limited control over my life.
UNCERTAINTY
Despite my limited control, it’s guaranteed that God will write (or allow to be written) some things in my story that I wouldn’t have included. This might be a loss, a sickness, a family issue, a deep hurt. There will alway be uncertainty when someone else holds the pen to your story, but there will never be lack of purpose (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
TRUST
What God writes will require my faith. As difficult as it is to trust God sometimes, it’s not nearly as difficult as when God puts you in a position where you have no other option but to trust him. Every person and family will have moments like this, when outcomes are completely out of your control. What we do in these moments matters greatly.
RESPONSE
My response impacts my results. Job blessed God when his story fell completely apart. Jonah ran from God when he wanted to stay in control of his story. Paul glorified God through his story’s unwanted struggles. Our response of faith and trust, or our reaction of trying to steal the pen out of God’s hand will often determine our level of peace, and the ability of those parts of our story to be used for our good.
These four things—control, uncertainty, trust, and response—can sometimes be a cycle on repeat in multiple areas of our lives. What we do with them matters.
Today, whatever you’re facing, take your hand off the pen.
God’s got this. He always has.
For the next generation,
Andrew
“If you have a God big and powerful enough to be mad at, then you’ve got a God big and powerful enough to be wiser than you, and to have some good reasons why he hasn’t stopped (your pain) that you can’t think of… I don’t know what the reason… is, but I do know what it isn’t; it’s not because God doesn’t love you.” -Tim Keller
