"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
- Romans 15:4
The Bible is full of stories, stories of encouragement, stories of hope, stories of the goodness of God, and more. In the Bible, we see people like Judas and King Saul whose stories ended in unfortunate ways. Along with stories about people like Paul who experienced God's great redemption. All of these stories are to encourage, warn, and inspire us. As we live our lives, we too are writing stories; and we shouldn't just go through life passively but with purpose. Because God wants to use every aspect of our stories for His glory.
There are parts of our lives that we may want to relive along with parts that we may want to erase. But we are to remain cognisant of our lives because they are examples to other people. Our lives can teach people, and we should be careful and mindful with them. God can use our stories to uplift and encourage others, so we shouldn't hide or be ashamed of them.
Here are some things to remember as you live out your story
Your story isn't over (Matthew 26:31-35)
The Lord tells Peter of how he will betray him in the time to come. Although Peter refuses to believe it, it comes to pass and he ends up denying the Lord. However, God redeemed it and Peter was used by God in a mighty way. You may have made some mistakes in the past but God can still use you. It wasn't over for Peter after He denied Jesus, God still had mighty plans for Him as he walked in repentance. So it's not over for you either.
The goodness of God (Joshua 4:1-24)
God wants people to see His goodness through your life. Even if you've had brokenness and disruption it's never too late for God to turn it around and change things for your good.
Whatever happened in your life didn't happen for no reason, it happened for a purpose. So continue to praise God for His goodness in your life. Don't allow the negative things in your life to hold you back, in fact, look back and reflect on how God has been good in your life.
As you look back, it's also important to think about what you would repeat along with what you would change.
Don't allow life to define you (Ruth 1:19-21)
Even when life has dealt bitterly with you, choose to be hopeful and remember that God can utilize the tragedies in your story. Because He is faithful and has never intended for you to be bitter but pleasant. Don't allow life to make you hard or numb. Instead, continue to delight in the Lord despite your past or present circumstances. God also doesn't want you to walk through life and forget where you've been. Nor does He want you to get stuck, because He is taking you to new heights. Don't be stuck in the past because you must move forward. Allow God to mend, heal, restore, and steer you in the right direction.
Never estimate the power of sharing your story! God can use it in ways that you can't even imagine. Be real with your story because God wants to use it as a tool for His kingdom.
Message from Pst. Grace Finesse
Comments