The Story of You

 

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV).

 

I recently thought about writing a memoir, though I also quickly dismissed the idea in favor of a more “colorful” work. I hope you have been able to get a copy of “The Lone Star: Independence.” It was fun doing it because of the ability to just write. It is historical fiction; thus, much of it is based on historical events, though I used my “story-telling ability” liberally.

 

Most of us love stories, but it’s surprising how easily we can end up missing the stories God has written for our lives. Winston Churchill once famously claimed that history was simply “one thing after another.” In other words, he claimed there was no story behind our experiences in life, only a series of events. Our reading today indicates that the opposite is true. We all have a very specific story, written before the “foundation of the world” and ordained by God. And, the result of it is a creative act that will result in our being “fearfully and wonderfully” made.

 

I wonder, if you would take a look back at your life, accessed where you’ve been, what you have accomplished or yet to accomplish coupled with your good and bad experiences, what would the title of your story be?  Would it be something like “Better Days Ahead,” or perhaps “A New Horizon”?  It is a fun thought. I think I might title my story as “Good After All.”

 

Some might look back and merely see the regret or failure and be tempted to think their life was a waste, ending in nothing but pain and difficulty. It is true that all of us have had those days when we viewed our jobs or careers or families as where we have “ended up” in life. It leads to the presumption that there can’t possibly be some master plan behind whatever situation you are in right now. But the Bible tells us that the events of our lives make sense because they are part of a much larger story. The struggles of last month or the victories that we may claim in the next few weeks are not simply chance occurrences. They are part of a story line that is going somewhere. The work you do, the people you share life with, the abilities you have, and the weaknesses you struggle with are all part of a collection of ele­ments intended to make for a really good story… the story of you… God’s story of you. Don’t despair. God’s got this!