Is the Author of Your Story You? Or God?

You’re writing the story of your life every day. What you wrote yesterday determined where you are today. And what you write today will determine where you’ll be tomorrow.

What if you find yourself far from where you want to be? Far from where you intended to be at this point in your life? It’s never too late to change your story and the trajectory of your life. So how do we do that? Where do we even start?

Your next step is a big decision, one that we all face each day. The question you have to ask is, “Do I write my own story and hope that God likes it, or do I choose to let God write my story, regardless of what that might mean for me?”

That’s the fundamental question. And if you find that your story is not so good, chances are you’ve been writing your own story without God, hoping he’ll bless it. It isn’t too late to start letting God write your story.

If you want to know God’s story for your life, start by looking at the Bible. That’s his story. He teaches us that if we let him write our story, it will be characterized by such things as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  

Paul calls these the “fruit of the Spirit,” and this isn’t a to-do list. We can’t do this on our own. I can’t will-power myself into patience or joy or self-control.

Not too long ago, I was in the check-out line at a grocery store, and a nice, older lady was in front of me at the cash register. I was in a bit of a hurry. After the cashier rang up a shopping cart full of groceries, she announced the total price. Then, this sweet lady started looking in her purse for her checkbook. Seriously. After the cashier had rung up all the groceries. It took longer for the customer to pay than it did for the cashier to ring up a cart full of groceries. I don’t care how good a person I am, I could not manufacture patience that day. 

We can’t create this fruit. Only the Holy Spirit can do that in our lives. What we’re to do is “walk by the Spirit” (5:16), be “led by the Spirit” (5:18), “live by the Spirit,” and “keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25). God calls us to surrender to him, in faith, every day, every hour. When we follow him, when we trust in his love and guidance, he’ll produce this fruit in us, and he’ll change our story for the better.

God will also write your story when you choose his way even when it isn’t popular. Even when it will cost you. Even when you’re afraid. We often don’t have the strength, courage, or ability to do what God calls us to do. That’s okay. That’s right where he wants us.

There was a man named Gideon who thought his usefulness to God was based on his abilities. He, too, was afraid. The story is found in Judges 6, and here’s part of what is said:

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:12-15)

Do you hear yourself saying something like that to God? “I know this is what the Bible says, but how can I possibly do this?” or “I feel you calling me to this challenge, Lord, but I’m just not capable. I’m the least.” Or even, “I know this is what you want, but I’m afraid to follow you.”

God called Gideon to lead the people to overthrow their oppressors, but Gideon shrank back and said, “No way I can do this. You’ve got the wrong guy.” Gideon could not see God’s power. All he saw was his weakness. And this is how God responded: 

And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:16)

“I will be with you.” God says the same thing to you. Every time you’re faced with the decision to follow God in faith, he says these very words — “I will be with you.” 

As you read the story of Gideon in Judges chapters 6-8, you’ll see that he does follow in faith, and God uses him to free the people from bondage. When we decide to let God write our story, he will often call us to do things out of our comfort zone. Following God may cost us, but he is with us. 

In your life, are you saying no to God because you’re afraid or because you don’t feel capable?

To close the same way we opened this post, you are writing the story of your life every day. What you wrote yesterday determined where you are today. And what you write today will determine where you’ll be tomorrow.

And if your story has led you far from where you need to be, stop writing your story and let God write it instead. Stay in the Bible and in prayer. Allow the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out. When God calls you to obey him, do so with confidence and faith that he is always with you. 

Stop writing your story, and let your Heavenly Father write it. 

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