What’s in a Story?

What’s in a story? Everything! Why? Because we are our stories – we live them out on the canvas of our life that God has provided. Our past, and the lives of those that came before us have, in many ways, authored our present story. Our present and our past together will shape our future.

Past. Present. Future. We all have a story that has, does, and will shape our lives – and the lives of those who come from us, and after us.

But perhaps your past was not so great.  Maybe someone hurt you in secret when you were little. Maybe you still feel little. Maybe someone hurt you and humiliated you not so long ago. Maybe you feel unfulfilled, depressed, angry, or scared in the present.

Something that has formed much of my thinking about the counseling process is the concept of stories. For example, can aspects of the past be reframed so that the shape they give the future is healthy and whole? Can we find healing in our present for the wounds in our past? Can we shape our present so that our future story is the one that we would like have told?

Think about David. His story is history. The leftover brother. He faced Goliath. He lived on the run – in a cave. He didn’t kill Saul. He became a king. He was a man after God’s own heart. He sinned. What if your story would be written like Davids? How do you want to shape your story?

Reflection – Ask, Seek, Find

I no longer make New Year’s resolutions. If I did, I would be thin now for sure since losing weight was typically the main resolution that I made. But now I think that it is much better to prepare for a new year by reflecting on the one just finished rather than decide to do something that I haven’t done in the past.

And as I begin to reflect on this past year, it is easy to remember significant events and seasons. Knee surgery in January, our first grandchild born in March, my husband’s accident in June, and the summer caregiver issues with my mother-in-law, another knee surgery in September, the new puppy in September, and five wonderful weddings. I think now that taking time to reflect on these times, I can learn from them and allow the reflections to help shape the year to come.

My Bible study group is reading “The Power of a Praying Life,” by Stormie Omartian. As I have been reading this book, working through the study guide, and now reflecting on the past year, I realize that I have allowed the minutia of life to supersede my time to converse with God. I remember telling others how grateful I was to God, but how often did I tell Him? Other times I tackled problems, handled situations, or celebrated life as if I could control it all. I realized that sometimes I would remark that I knew that God’s hand was on a situation, but how often did I ask Him to direct my hand? I gave God credit (justifiably so), but didn’t let Him in.

What have I have learned about myself in my reflection so far? I need to believe that God will answer my prayers. I trust Him always to do the right thing, but I think I have been afraid to ask. After all, who am I to pester the God of the universe? But the Bible is clear — “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7). The answer may be no, yes, not now. It may be an answer that is very clear or one that is very vague, or I may have to wait a long time for an answer of any kind. But I am promised an answer.

So now what? Ask – Seek – Knock – Worship – Praise – tell God I am grateful.