God, the Writer

(Jenny Downing/C.C BY 2.0)

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One of the important pillars of a good story is the “twist”. The more compelling a twist is, the eager the reader or listener becomes to know how the tale ends. Unpredictability is a cherished feature in a story. Few people will bother to read a book if they know how the story will end. The human need for intrigue in a story is the reason why the entertainment industry sells millions of products every year. It is why we spend countless hours in front of TV, books, game consoles, and tablets.

Now life can be intriguing and uncertain – a little like the stories we read or listen to.

As humans, we lack the ability to know what is going to happen to us tomorrow. When bad things happen, our first instinct may be to ask God, “Why?” But has it ever occurred to you that God is a writer? That He writes the circumstances of our life in ways He sees fit? That the joy or sadness in our life is as a result of His decisions and creativity?

Most of us have faith that we are born to this world for a reason. We are constantly on a quest to seek out this mission day and night. Once we find it, we analyse events and situations that happen to us in its light. Getting a good education, winning a contract, having lots of money is seen as good for our divine purpose. On the other hand, losing a job, getting robbed, and losing a loved one is mostly seen as the devil’s doing.

There will be times when God, as a writer, puts a twist in His story. Our paths become blocked with obstacles and we find it difficult to progress. There will be times that even hope is taken from us and our vision is taped with darkness so thick we cannot see the signposts on our way.

As characters in God’s story, these obstacles are the things we hate. They seem meaningless, unnecessary, and pointless. But these are the “twists” we love so much in the tales we read. They are what make things “interesting”. The more obstacles our heroes face, the more intriguing the story and the more anxious we are for the characters to overcome their problems and triumph in the end.
Instead of blaming God for shoddy storytelling, we must look out for plots He has devised for getting us out of our difficulties so we can triumph over our trials.

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;” Isaiah 49:16

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God's Plan for the World eBook: Timothy Keller: Kindle Store ASIN: B008HTPZG0