Brilliant Master Storyweaver

How do you even begin to describe the glory of the all-glorious God?  How do you even explain when His glory (His love, His faithfulness, His compassion, His sovereignty) becomes everything to you?  

How do you explain what it's like for God to explode into your life and turn your world upside down?  How do you express what it's like to be completely changed?  To have a new identity?  To be marked forever?

"How was your trip?" is something I hear often now.  What can I say?  

Lifechanging.

One of my dear friends asked me that very question a few evenings ago, and I found myself almost at a loss for words.  How could I describe it??  "I am a different person," I replied.
She smiled at me.  "I can tell.  I hear it in your voice."

In the past I have struggled with letting God be the Author of my life.  I have feared trusting Him because my path thus far hasn't made a lot of sense to me.  I thought I could write a better story, one with much less pain and many fewer trials.  Now, as God is bringing me through seasons of healing and redemption, I can look back and say:

"O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness." -Isaiah 25:1

I recognize that if I were in control, my life would look much different.  It might be less complicated, absolutely.  But it would not be abundant.  If I were in control, my life would be safe and easy.  But I would not be alive.  

When I was younger, I prayed that God would give me a life worth writing about, a story worth telling.  Now I see that my life is His story, and it is definitely worth telling.  He is the main character, and I am a supporting actress.  My ultimate goal in life is to glorify God, whatever that looks like.  However, wherever, whenever.  

And what a story He is writing.  It is not devoid of problems.  It is not devoid of pain.  It is not devoid of frustration or complications or impossibilities.  
But neither is it devoid of miracles.  It is filled with promises and hope and faithfulness.  What a God we serve!

He is the brilliant Master Storyweaver, interlacing threads of life both painful and beautiful to create a tapestry that reflects His love and glory!  

What a beautiful robe to wear.  

Hand Over The Pen!

I've been thinking a lot about "endings" lately.  For an author, two of the most beautiful words in the English language are "The End."  That's it: there's closure, all the loose ends are tied, all the storylines are wrapped up, happily ever after, etc., etc.  

I've come to the ironic conclusion that authors must have significantly more trouble trusting God than others do.  Why?  Because authors write stories; we know the endings, what happens, how it happens, who dies, who lives, who loses, who wins, who ends up with whom, who ends up miserable and who ends up happy.  We know the histories and the very destinies of our characters.  In essence, we get a taste of what it must be like to be God.  We are the masters of the stories we write . . . but eventually we must come to acknowledge that we have a Master writing our own stories. 

It's hard for an author to surrender his/her pen.  

Why is it so hard to let God be God and to allow Him to have full control over our own stories?  The answer is simple: we're afraid to hand God the pen because He might write a completely different ending than the one we are hoping for. 

What do we know about God as Author?  Can He really be trusted, even with the dreams we hold closer to our hearts than our next heartbeat?  

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him." -1 Corinthians 2:9

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.  For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." -Habakkuk 1:5

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11

"What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" -Romans 8:31-32 

"And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

Take a good look at that last verse.  We often hear, "God has a plan," but stop for a moment, and think of it this way.  If God chooses not to give you the ending you are hoping for, you must believe it's because HIS ending is so much better, it will blow your mind.  God doesn't just have "a plan."  That phrase is too vague for me.  I prefer to declare, "God's plan for me is GOOD." 

Let that sink in.  Sometimes all I can pray is that God will make me willing to be open to a different path than the one I would have chosen.

Recently, my aunt told me something so profound: God is writing your story, and it's a beautiful one...and it's not over. Maybe this season you're in is like the chapter that breaks the reader's heart and makes her want to throw the book across the room. But then after the reader calms down, she picks the book up again and continues reading...and discovers that each of the following chapters is filled with promises...which eventually lead to a beautiful and wonderful ending. This whole situation is still a stroke of the pen on the page of the book God is writing for you. And because He works for the GOOD of those who love Him, you KNOW that He's not going to let you down. 

In her book When a Woman Trusts God, Sheila Walsh writes, "God is here.  He is right here with you.  He never left you but at every turn in the road longs to show you what is inside your heart and set you free.  You are not a victim of the whims of others, no matter how true that may feel.  You are a beloved daughter [or son] of the King who is making you into a thing of greater and greater beauty as you learn to leave your dreams in His care."

I've decided to give the Author His pen back.  Will you join me here?