Life Makes Sense: God’s Story of You
Scripture Reading — Psalm 139:13-16
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
—Psalm 139:16
We 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. Few things are more deadening to your soul than thinking that your life ultimately means little more than one thing after another.
Yet that’s how we often feel. On many days we view our jobs or careers or families as where we have “ended up” in life. In fact, it can seem a bit presumptuous to think there’s 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.
Do you believe this?
Lord, sometimes we hardly dare to hope that there is a great purpose behind the events of our lives, especially in everyday things that may seem mundane. Help us to hope in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Ron Vanderwell
Ron Vanderwell recently became the senior pastor of New Life Church in New Lenox, Illinois. He has been a pastor for 22 years, serving as a church planter for the previous 12 years at The Gathering in Sacramento, California, and before that as a pastor in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Ron and his wife, Deb, have three sons: John, Adam, and Jake.
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