God Writes Your Story
I love looking back at old pictures or re-living those good sweet memories in life, don't you? Sometimes it may bring joy and laughter and other times tears of joy realizing how fast time has passed.
How often do we look back at the negative things in life though? Those things that weigh us down and cause us to slow down. Those things that keep us from moving forward for God. God is writing our story each and every day. He is the Author of what happens and doesn't happen in our lives. What can we do when we feel stuck and don't like our story? Here are some tips to help:
One
Realize God Has A Plan:
God always has a plan. No matter what! When we struggle moving forward in life, it may because we haven't accepted what has come our way. There's a song that I love by Lauren Talley (click to listen)- On Bended Knee The song says that God is the One that writes my story. I love this because no matter what comes into our life (our story) it will only have in it what God wants it to.
I look at the life of Joseph and Job and I see that no matter how they may have wanted their lives to turn out, they had problems come their way that challenged them to grow and to be better for the Lord. God has that same plan for us. He wants us to come out better through the hard times than we were before. Our problems and challenges should grow us. It is our choice though to grow or become bitter.
Two
Recognize that it is only a good thing to look back when it can be an encouragement and a reminder for how God has brought you through something or if it helps you to move forward.
Looking back and dwelling on the past wishing it were different will just get you down and keep you stuck. However, looking back to see where God has brought you from can be a huge encouragement to keep moving forward.
Philippians 1:12 "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;"
Even with what Paul went through, he knew there was a greater purpose. In 2 Corinthians 1:4 "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
Being able to help others with the things that we have been through really makes a difference. It brings a different kind of comfort that you cannot get when you cannot fully understand what someone is going through. Doesn’t it comfort you in a different way when someone else helps you with something and they have been through the same thing? I have. It brings another level of understanding.
There is just something different about it when a person truly understands what you are going through. What an encouragement to see that God brought someone else through it and He will bring us through as well. God is so good.
If we choose to grow through our circumstances we can help others, but if we become bitter and mad at God, we will not be much help to others. We don't get to choose to live someone else's story. We can choose to use our story to help others come to Christ and grow closer to Him.
What will you choose today? Will you grow through your past or current circumstances? Will you choose to let the Lord work in your life? Even though it is hard and it may not make sense. Faith believes that God knows what He is doing.
Three
Lastly, Trust God with your future. Even if you have had a hard time in the past, trust God with what is ahead for you. When God writes your story, if you want something that you don't have, trust that God doesn't want that to be a part of your story. Just keep praying and trusting Him is the key. Accepting what God has for you and asking Him for wisdom and guidance in your life. He loves you so much. He has not forgotten you, nor will He ever forget you. Ask Him to use you with what you have been through to be a help to someone else. God will bless you for sharing your testimony and allowing Him to shine through you! So, will you trust God with writing your story?
