Wherever I go, I observe others and imagine their stories. I guess being an avid blogger and being in the business of story makes you attuned to the emotions of others. Just tonight, I was in line at the grocery store and a man weighing well over 500 pounds was in front of me. Buying 10 packages of fettuccine alfredo. He was in a motorized cart and could barely pull money out of his wallet. My heart felt torn in two. What happened to him to cause him to destroy himself? I wondered if there was a moment in his life where he just started eating and never stopped. A tragedy, heartbreak, something that made him decide numbing himself through food was better than living.

I wish I could have talked to the man and encourage him. I love stories. Stories make up who we are and where we’re headed. Most of my stories stay closed in my journal, filled with errors & inconsistencies; but a few make it onto the blog and into the lives of my readers. I started this blog with a desire to share my story to illuminate God’s redemption and healing for others.

In To Be Told, Dan Allender talks about the importance of knowing our story and searching for how God designed it to fit into the greatest story, the Gospel. Stories don’t give answers; they offer perspective. On our fiction team, we have discovered oftentimes when people go through rough patches they read fiction book before they are ready for the nonfiction book. Whatever the subject, it’s often less-intrusive to read a story than it is to read instructions about how to overcome our struggles. Stories wrap us like a tight blanket offering deep perspective on our existence.

And if you know anything about stories, you know that great stories always involve a problem, often the shattering of an idyllic life.

Only after this intrusion of pain, confusion, or heartache do we know the characters more deeply. More fully. But if you’re anything like me, when my story changes direction or is filled with confusion because of pain-I grow frustrated and weary. I lose sight of the greater story I’m a part of and often cling to my well-thought out plans and dreams.

Allender says, “It is our responsibility to know our story so we can live more intentionally and boldly for the Gospel.” How does your past play a role in your present? The pain in our lives will either shut out the love of God and people or be a deep pool where others can come to find healing. Which will it be for you?

Good Questions to Ask Yourself:

-How does my past shape who I am today?

-What moves me most deeply?

-What do I most enjoy doing?

-Where do I find the greatest pleasure and joy?

-What is it about my current life that brings me a sense of purpose?

Your past can always be illuminated for good in the lives of those around you, as a part of His Story. How will you open yourself up to investigating your past so that God’s light can shine brightly on your future? What’s your story, morning glory?

If you liked this post, you may also like:

• Your Story Must Be Told
• Recommended Reading On Life, Marriage, and Christian Living
• What is Your “Calling”?
• Grace Like Rain