from chaos to calling: how god’s pen writes your messy middle
This isn't the life I signed up for. I don't know about you but I embarked on my college journey with big dreams and an open heart. It took a while to get settled, but once I did I had big plans. Big plans that included marriage, a family, and a career filled with meaningful work. Flashforward almost 40 years (yikes) and most of that stuff hasn't come true. Yet. To be perfectly honest, I never could have predicted the story that God has written for my life. While a marriage and family has proved elusive, I've seen the blessing of trusting God with my story. And if you feel stuck or your life deels disappointing or messy, you are not alone.
Seeing Through God's Lens
Whether we find ourselves in the midst of an ordinary or tumultuous chapters, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. We often view our circumstances through a particular lens, focusing solely on the immediate discomfort and disappointment of not understanding our story when we are in the middle. However, God – the ultimate Author of our lives – sees our story from an entirely different vantage point.
Imagine, for a moment, that your life is a novel being written by the One who loves you most. Each plot twist, each moment of conflict, and each unexpected turn of events is carefully crafted to deepen your faith, develop your character and ultimately lead you to a life far more beautiful life than you could have ever imagined on your own.
Isaiah 55:8-9, reminds us that God does not see as we see..."For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." This passage serves as a powerful reminder that even in our most chaotic moments, God is weaving together a story with purpose and intention.
Biblical Examples of those who thrived in the midst of God's story
The pages of scripture are filled with stories of individuals who faced seemingly insurmountable challenges, only to discover that these very difficulties were instrumental in shaping their destinies and furthering God's plan.
Joseph: From Pit to Palace
Joseph's story, found in the book of Genesis, is an example of how God can use life's lowest moments to propel us towards a life of purpose and impact. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph could have easily succumbed to bitterness and despair - staying stuck in the messy middle. Instead, he chose to trust in God's plan, even when his story didn't make sense. Embracing his story led him to a position of great influence, where he was able to save not only his family but entire nations from famine. So much so that Joseph declared in Genesis 50:2: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Esther: For Such a Time as This
Esther's story reminds us what is possible when we trust God to do the writing. Thrust into a the palace during a time of great peril for her people, When Esther initially hesitated to use her voice, it was her uncle Mordecai who reminded her of the ways God could use this unexpected rise to royalty: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). Esther's courage in the face of persecution and death not only saved her people but also demonstrated how God can use the story He is writing with our lives to accomplish His greater purposes.
Paul: Strength in Weakness
The Apostle Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, became one of the most influential figures in spreading the Gospel and building the Church. Yet, even in his ministry, Once he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul faced a variety of challenges, including a "thorn in the flesh" that he pleaded with God to remove. Instead of healing Paul, God responded, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul's life teaches us that sometimes our greatest strengths emerge from our perceived weaknesses, and that God's power shines brightest through our vulnerabilities.
Decoding Your Personal Story
While biblical examples provide inspiration and guidance, it's important to recognize that your story is uniquely your own. One powerful tool for understanding your personal story and how it intersects with God's larger story is life mapping. Life mapping encourages us to slow down, observe our story so far, and the ways that God is working in the chapters of your life -- both now and in the future.
Reconnecting with yourself and the story God is writing can help you and I discover our values, our strengths, and our passions. Slowing down to unlock our story can become a powerful tool to hear God speak and embrace the life you are already. living as a path to purpose and impact.
One essential ingredient is to unpack your story is doing so in community. It is though community that we can process our story and have a safe space to hear God's truth for our next steps. If you're ready to find a Christian community of like-minded women to process your story, then I'd love to invite you to our next group coaching program called Unlocking Your Story.
