So recently I've had a new bout of anxiety. It just kinda came out of nowhere and hit me like a wave. But it got me thinking...One of the things that I've always done is compared myself to others.(I know that's not something we're supposed to do and I'm working on fixing that.) I see other Christians, older Christians, other people who seem to have it all worked out while I'm here sometimes struggling to keep my head above water. But here's the thing, my life journey isn't the same as anyone else's. My life story is in the process of being written. Other people who seem to have it all figured out, the ones who've been through this type of thing before are at a different place in their stories than I am. I'm sure once upon a time, when they were my age and going through the very things that I am now, they had many of the same feelings I do. But that's the beauty of it. A story that's unfolding.
I love to read series books, especially series that follow the stories of different characters within the series. One of my favorite book series is written by Christian author Melanie Dickerson. It's a Medieval Fairytale Romance series. Each book is a re-telling of a classic fairytale based in Medieval times and uses original characters. While each book can stand on its own, they are all a part of the same story and each reference elements from the preceding books. For example in one of the books The Princess Spy based on the story of the frog prince, you meet the main character's brothers and their wives as well as her parents and her love interest. And while the author hints at the journeys each of them took to get to where they are, the full story of their individual relationships aren't told in this particular book. You only get to see them where they are now. However, if you were to pick up The Captive Maiden, The Fairest Beauty, The Healer's Apprentice, or (my personal favorite) The Merchant's Daughter you would see that each loving couple had quite a long journey full of danger, near misses, daring rescues, misunderstandings, and touching reunions before they became what they are in The Princess Spy.
That kind of reminds me of life. Think about it, as we progress through life and we see other people around us who seem to have this life thing figured out we have to remember that they've probably already been through the part of the road that we're experiencing at the moment. Just like the characters in Melanie Dickerson's books, everyone has their own stories of how they got to where they are. It's just easier sometimes to hear about how so and so went through a time of depression,or this person had a time where they were struggling to figure out who they were and what they were supposed to do because we already know the outcome of that time in their lives because they're telling us about it. For those of us going through those times, it's not so easy because we don't know the ending because we haven't lived it yet.
Here's my encouraging thought for you, WE may not know the ending of our stories or even what the next chapter or page holds, but the author of our lives does. The stories of our lives are some of his favorite reading material, he's excited about what the next page holds for us and can't wait to read it to us. Our job is to listen for his voice as he reads the words to us. So when you get discouraged, and you're looking out into the shrouded land called "The Future" just remember that your story isn't finished yet, you've just begun to read the book. And one day, you will be able to use your story to help someone else who's stuck on a page similar the one you're stuck on now.
Final Thoughts: Our Bible heroes and heroines that we like to look at David, Ruth, Rahab, Esther, Peter, Joseph, Mary...they didn't know what the end of their stories would be. We have the advantage, we know the end of their stories already because we can read all about them in the Bible whenever we want to. But put yourself in their positions, when they were actually living the events of the stories we love so much, they didn't have a clue how their stories would turn out. And something we always tend to forget, is they experienced the same kind of emotions that we do today. We tend to idealize them and lose sight of the fact that they were just as human as we are. They experienced depression, excitement, sadness, joy, love, anger, happiness, fear. But they also overcame them because they trusted in God.
Dear Jesus,
I thank you that you're not finished with my story yet, that you're teaching me valuable things during this time in my life that one day I'm going to be able to use to help others. Please help me to remember that this season won't last forever, that you have great and marvelous things planned for me. I pray for the people who read this blog, I pray that they will be encouraged and will look to you to show them what their story holds. If they don't know you yet, I pray that they will look into meeting you. Thank you, Jesus, for the reminder that you love us and you're holding us in your strong hands, no matter what the next page has written on it, you're still in control.
Thank you, Jesus.
Love,
Drea :)
I love to read series books, especially series that follow the stories of different characters within the series. One of my favorite book series is written by Christian author Melanie Dickerson. It's a Medieval Fairytale Romance series. Each book is a re-telling of a classic fairytale based in Medieval times and uses original characters. While each book can stand on its own, they are all a part of the same story and each reference elements from the preceding books. For example in one of the books The Princess Spy based on the story of the frog prince, you meet the main character's brothers and their wives as well as her parents and her love interest. And while the author hints at the journeys each of them took to get to where they are, the full story of their individual relationships aren't told in this particular book. You only get to see them where they are now. However, if you were to pick up The Captive Maiden, The Fairest Beauty, The Healer's Apprentice, or (my personal favorite) The Merchant's Daughter you would see that each loving couple had quite a long journey full of danger, near misses, daring rescues, misunderstandings, and touching reunions before they became what they are in The Princess Spy.
That kind of reminds me of life. Think about it, as we progress through life and we see other people around us who seem to have this life thing figured out we have to remember that they've probably already been through the part of the road that we're experiencing at the moment. Just like the characters in Melanie Dickerson's books, everyone has their own stories of how they got to where they are. It's just easier sometimes to hear about how so and so went through a time of depression,or this person had a time where they were struggling to figure out who they were and what they were supposed to do because we already know the outcome of that time in their lives because they're telling us about it. For those of us going through those times, it's not so easy because we don't know the ending because we haven't lived it yet.
Here's my encouraging thought for you, WE may not know the ending of our stories or even what the next chapter or page holds, but the author of our lives does. The stories of our lives are some of his favorite reading material, he's excited about what the next page holds for us and can't wait to read it to us. Our job is to listen for his voice as he reads the words to us. So when you get discouraged, and you're looking out into the shrouded land called "The Future" just remember that your story isn't finished yet, you've just begun to read the book. And one day, you will be able to use your story to help someone else who's stuck on a page similar the one you're stuck on now.
Final Thoughts: Our Bible heroes and heroines that we like to look at David, Ruth, Rahab, Esther, Peter, Joseph, Mary...they didn't know what the end of their stories would be. We have the advantage, we know the end of their stories already because we can read all about them in the Bible whenever we want to. But put yourself in their positions, when they were actually living the events of the stories we love so much, they didn't have a clue how their stories would turn out. And something we always tend to forget, is they experienced the same kind of emotions that we do today. We tend to idealize them and lose sight of the fact that they were just as human as we are. They experienced depression, excitement, sadness, joy, love, anger, happiness, fear. But they also overcame them because they trusted in God.
Dear Jesus,
I thank you that you're not finished with my story yet, that you're teaching me valuable things during this time in my life that one day I'm going to be able to use to help others. Please help me to remember that this season won't last forever, that you have great and marvelous things planned for me. I pray for the people who read this blog, I pray that they will be encouraged and will look to you to show them what their story holds. If they don't know you yet, I pray that they will look into meeting you. Thank you, Jesus, for the reminder that you love us and you're holding us in your strong hands, no matter what the next page has written on it, you're still in control.
Thank you, Jesus.
Love,
Drea :)
By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Festoon me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules. My life is as close as my own hands, but I don’t forget what you have revealed. The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don’t swerve an inch from your course. I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever— what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say— I always have and always will.
Psalm 119:105 MSG
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
1 Peter 5:8-11 MSG
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