God’s Story

This past week I finished a book, the 10th book in a series actually, and I found myself disappointed in a decision the author made. I most certainly would have made a different decision had I been the one telling the story. An author of fiction is in charge of shaping the story of each character and has the final say about what happens to them.

Sometimes I wonder if this is the way we think God authors our stories. Do we imagine him sitting at a drafting table working and reworking what will happen to us in this lifetime - writing all of our dialogue, dictating every decision we make, leaving us suspended not knowing what will happen next - until we meet our demise? But! Our lives aren’t works of fiction.

I think God is authoring just one story - his story - and we have been invited onto the pages of his story for however long we live. The invitation isn’t for us to begin a story of our own, with our own plot, and our own characters, but rather to join the story that is already in progress. To recognize God’s story as the ultimate story. The story of redemption and renewal. The story where death is defeated. The story where all sin, sickness, and disease comes to an end. The story where there is hope and freedom, joy and celebration.

And for some reason, in his kindness, God felt he’d like us to be a part of this story. A part of bringing new creation into the world around us. We don’t always understand all the bits of the story God is writing. And that is ok. It reminds us that God is sovereign and his story is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Num 23:19, Heb 13:8). He is the one who has created all things (Gen 1, Job 38-39). His story was written on our hearts (Romans 2:15). He has loved us with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3). He rules and reigns over all things (Dan 4:17).

I think God sees the story of creation, redemption, and new life not as just individual, but also collective. I think all of our lives mingled together is what makes the story beautiful. Our highs and lows. Our learning to navigate community. Our kindness toward one another. Our helping those in need. Our healing. Our hope. Our prayers. Our grief. None of it is meant for isolation, and all of it requires God’s gracious intervention.

I’m not sure if I can trust the author of the book series I am reading. Only time will tell if she made the right decision. But in my real-life story I know I can trust God. He has been faithful, is faithful, and will continue to be faithful not just in my lifetime but in every lifetime.

Where have you seen God’s faithfulness? Where do you see God inviting you to help bring new creation?


~ Melissa