We all have stories. Some are funny, some are painful, some we retell over and over and some we perhaps never share. But they all contribute to who we are.
In the midst of our life journey, what we don’t always see is that God is weaving a bigger story that started at the very beginning of time and extends through the ages of history. But what is so exciting is that He invites all of us to be part of His story and the unfolding of His plan. He is the master Storyteller and He wants us to be part of His narrative.
Throughout the bible from Genesis to Revelation, God’s speaks to us about His story through the accounts of those who have gone before us. The story of Abraham is a journey of amazing faith; Joseph’s is one of patience and how God always has a plan, as He works all things together for good. Hannah’s is one of how God answers the cry of our hearts and Esther’s is of great courage, and how we all have a part to play in the unfolding of God’s plan. The early disciple’s stories are those of choosing to follow Jesus, and how a small group of men and women can change the world.
Joseph, who years later when facing his brothers after they’d sold him as a slave said, “You meant evil against me”, but God worked it out for good. Joseph used a Hebrew verb that traces it’s meaning to “weave” or “plait”. “You wove evil,” he said, “but God rewove it together for good.”
Joseph understood that God is the Master Weaver and Storyteller who stretches and intertwines like yarn the colours of our stories. He uses both the ragged damaged twine with the beautiful velvety strands, both our pleasure and our pain. He passes the weaving shuttle back and forth across life and the generations, and as He does a design and amazing story emerges. Satan may weave and plot against us, but God weaves and reweaves our stories for good.
All of our stories are worth sharing and it’s often in the retelling that we realise how far we have come, where we have come from and with God’s help we also begin to see where we are going. Our stories have the potential to inspire and encourage others and to impart faith and hope to those we meet in our journey and even those who may learn of us after we have gone.
But more than anything God wants our stories to be part of His, because in doing so He breaths purpose and design into our lives and we discover that nothing is ever wasted when our story is interwoven with His.
Today think about your story so far and see what and who has shaped you. If your story has pain in it, I encourage you to look again at your life and acknowledge the things you have done, and that which has been left undone. To give thanks for the good and to face any pain and regret you are carrying. Then consider giving God every strand of your story to reweave each part into something beautiful and good.
“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)
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)
Prayer: Lord I want to thank you for my story so far. Please help me to let you into all of my past, my present and my future. Reweave it where necessary, and help me to trust you to unfold the best possible story. In Jesus Name Amen.
Commentaires