“Embrace the story God has given you. Even the parts where you grabbed the pen from his hand and tried to write your own. Even the parts where someone else burst in uninvited and created chaos. The scenes we’d rather skip become the redemptive highlights of God’s glory.”- Sharon Jaynes
In Chapter 12 (“The Perfect Ending to an Imperfect Story”), the final chapter of When You Don’t Like Your Story, Sharon Jaynes opens with memories of her son’s wedding day. However, Sharon soon reveals that, during his junior year of college, Steven found life too hard to keep living.
A day after he was rushed to the hospital, Steven called his mother. That call commenced the opening to the worst chapter of Sharon’s life. Above all, Sharon stresses, she filtered every single page of this book through the tears, trauma, and triumph of that experience. Hence, the author exhorts:
“God has the power to forgive the unforgivable, to mend the unrepairable, to redeem the unredeemable, and to get you through the worst chapters imaginable. And not just get you through them, but make you better for it.”
Certainly, Sharon notes, everyone wants a new beginning. But, she asks, what about a new ending? Do you believe it’s possible to write a new ending to your story? Add two more dots to that period at the end – to form an ellipsis?
Consequently, Sharon advises, don’t get stuck in a chapter when God simply invites you to turn the page. Think Eric Liddel in Chariots of Fire.
Finally, Sharon wants to leave you with this thought. That it’s not how you start. Rather, it’s how you finish. Above all, it’s important how you finish each chapter of the story God’s writing. and blending it into His. Also, the author adds:
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you embrace the story God has given you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the annotated bibliography of When You Don’t Like Your Story
