The Rest of Your Story 2: Picking Up Our Pens

Pens by Pacopus (flickr) 
To start from part one, click here.

It seems we all ask at some point…

What’s my role in writing the story of my life?”

On one side are those who say you shouldn’t jot down a single word unless you know it’s perfect.

On the other side are those who say you should just move forward with whatever you feel.

I believe we are called to be proactive partners with God in our story.

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This is an example…

One of my dear friends, Julie, longed for years to have a child and pursued adoption. She and her husband eventually contacted an orphanage in another country but didn’t hear anything. Several months later, they had the opportunity to meet with family members of the couple who ran the orphanage.

They had difficulty getting together and only one specific day would work. At dinner, they prayed for Julie and her husband as well as the child they would one day adopt.

A few days later, Julie received a call that the orphanage had a newborn baby boy for them. When Julie considered the time difference, she realized that the mother was probably in labor when they prayed. God had timed the answer to years of longing down to the very minute.

Talking with Julie she said, “I don’t think that means we were supposed to be passive–God was working everything out but we had to be moving forward too, even when we didn’t have the answers or know exactly what He was doing.”

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Julie’s words have always stuck with me.

And they remind me of one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 19:21…

Many are the plans in a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Will we always get it exactly right? Will every choice we make be the perfect one? No, of course not. But what those words say to me is that God can work it out if we’re truly seeking Him.

When I look at the people God chose to follow Him, they’re a rag-tag bunch that often made mistakes. It seems God values passion more than our idea of perfection. That doesn’t mean following our feelings but rather pursuing Him relentlessly and refusing to become passive.

In the story of our lives, I think He’s simply looking for hearts who are willing to pick up the pen and have the courage to try to write with Him.

He’ll take care of the ending.

Are you joining us from the DaySpring devotional e-mail? I’m so glad you stopped by! For a great giveaway and a fun new challenge, go to The Rest of Your Story: Part 11!

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About Holley

About Holley

Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author and Life Coach

I like humans, words, and good coffee. And I’d love to help you beat what’s holding you back, become all you’re created to be, and kick butt for the greater good.

Cheering you on,

Holley

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