Your Story is Only Yours

Once upon a time, I did not like my story. My life events that accumulated created a story that I did not approve of and was not proud of. A part of the shameful story was a written record of my own actions but most was choices made by others that directly affected me in a negative way. My life was not at all how I wanted it to be. Rather than read the pages of my life story exactly as they were written, I would elaborate on the parts that I did like and do my best to make the parts I didn’t like come across better than what they really were. A small portion of my story I kept silent, not letting anyone know.

Have you ever noticed that the best selling books and movies are full of suspense, love, joy, hurt, struggle, and drama? All of the human emotions are great when wrapped up in a movie or book--we actually call it entertainment! We know all of this drama makes a good movie but we don’t think it’s the right content for a good life! God gave us an array of emotions, yet we don’t want to use them all--right? Who likes to be sad? Who likes to be mad? Who likes to be scared?

Some parts of our BIG story we love, embrace, and cherish... and other parts, not so much.

I want to encourage you to embrace your story. OWN your story--all of it. It’s yours to tell.

I’m not saying go tell everyone everything. What I am saying is don’t be embarrassed of the parts you don’t like and want hidden away. Love and appreciate your story--even the hurtful parts. Those parts, if handled properly, are what made you the wonderful person you are today--in the same way drama makes a good book or movie.

I would go as far as to say, not embracing your story keeps you from fulfilling God’s plan for your life. Have you ever thought that God wants to use your story to help others? God pulled you out of darkness, you now have a flashlight, and He wants you to go back and help others escape from the darkness they are in.

One thing is certain; your story only belongs to you. No one else can have it, steal it, borrow it, buy it. It is a priceless original, and any copy made just doesn’t compare. It is a masterpiece. There are many books on the shelf with many different titles, each book has different pages--no two stories are the same.

“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 hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

We all have a story. Our entire life is one BIG story. You may or may not be writing it all down but one thing is for sure, your story is being recorded in Heaven.

“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Revelation 20:12 (ESV)

“God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

Psalm 18:24 (MSG)