Our Stories Reflect God’s Story of Our Lives

Like many,  I love sitting down and sharing stories with family and new and old friends.  I love hearing their stories – their life journeys.  As my friend Bev used to say, her greatest joy was to sit around the dining room table with family and friends, have a wonderful meal, break bread and share stories. 

Sitting down with someone over a meal, a cup of coffee, (or, for me, a cup of tea), gives me such joy. I find we learn so much from one another’s life journeys. So often their experiences and perspectives become a new insight or pearl of wisdom that can be used in one’s own life. We learn so much from one another.  

I think that is why I enjoy reading the stories of the Bible. It’s not only a daily blessing to learn from the word of God, but it also sparks one’s heart and curiosity to learn more about the history and people of the time of the writings. Often my daily Bible study lingers in my heart throughout the day and, through conversation, I am able to gain insight or answer a question about a hard decision, or a challenge that I am facing. 

So often, I will reflect upon my study and a conversation I recently had that will guide me on my next chapter in my life story. 

This month I have just finished the study of Malachi, the twelfth book of the Minor Prophets. This past year, my ladies’ prayer group (also referred to as my sisters and prayer warriors) decided we would dive into a full study of the 12 Minor Prophets found towards the end of the Old Testament.  As we took a slow journey through these books that I like to call the unsung Prophet heroes of the Bible, we have learned that many Believers (including myself), do not study these books outside of the book of Jonah in their early years of life.

“But for you who stand in awe at the sound of my name, a new dawn is coming. For the sun of righteousness will rise with healing radiating from its wings.  And you will be free and leap for joy like calves released from the stall.”
Malachi 4: 2-3 (TPT)

Reading the stories of the Minor Prophets is like watching a dramatic film series with climatic stories of broken marriages, prideful leaders, plagues, swarms of locusts, destruction and loss. Yet, throughout these stories, we are reminded of YAHWEH, our God’s divine covenant to His people throughout every stage of history, past, present and future. His  forgiveness and long-suffering love give us an everlasting hope for those of us, as Believers, to turn to Him for all things. 

As we read in Joel 2:12 -13 (TPT) 12:

 “But it’s not too late,” declares Yahweh.“Come back to me now with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Tearing your clothes in sorrow is not enough
—tear open your hearts!” 

Come back to Yahweh your God, for he graciously welcomes you home and embraces you. Yahweh is slow to anger and so rich in extravagant love for you. He is always ready to forgive and cancel judgment.

As we read through these historical stories, we found ourselves asking for more. More details of the stories of areas, landmarks and of the people's lives during the period in which the Prophets were written.  While journeying into the rich history of these writings, we found ourselves walking through our own stories, life encounters, valleys and mountain peaks. To grow in our faith with God is to have joy through the different seasons because of the Hope we have from Him. What a glorious time filled with soft tears, ah-hah moments, laughter as we walked with God through the words of the Prophets. 

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
– Isaiah 40:31

As author Dr. Brian Simmons of The Passion Translation writes: 

“Knowing our place in God’s story, and that the story is not finished, has been a rock of hope for people in places and all times.  At the same time, the prophets showed the original audience, and us, a best case scenario for the future, a vision worth striving for.  They show us how to act in accordance with Yahweh’s, our God’s vision and requirements for us.”

Simmons adds, “The Lord’s words from the heavenly realm redirect his people’s eyes from what they can see to an eternal yet well-grounded hope that comes directly from Him. These books of the Minor Prophets were collected to affect, not just inform, the reader.”

“I encourage everyone to take the time to go read and study the books of the Minor Prophets, as they teach us so much about life. And how to live a life of faith with God.” 

I turned to the last page of Malachi and read his final message to the people. I closed my Bible and thanked God for this incredible journey into His word.  

This journey has brought our sisterhood prayer group closer through the sharing of our hearts and stories.  We found ourselves leaning on God’s word more to guide us through our daily lives and activities.  We encouraged one another to turn off the ways of the world and to embrace the simplicity of life and beauty that surrounds us in every day given to us by God.

“But for you who stand in awe at the sound of my name, a new dawn is coming. For the sun of righteousness will rise with healing radiating from its wings.  And you will be free and leap for joy like calves released from the stall.”
Malachi 4:2 (TPT)

Through God’s word, we have found peace in our souls thanks to the wisdom, prophecy, grace and hope of the Old and New Testaments, that promise everlasting life through Jesus Christ. 

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.”
– Isaiah 26:3

You see, I realized that everyone’s story is God’s story, His testimony, as we have all been created by God for His good purpose. The rich history of the stories of the people in the Bible make us who we are, as believers, in God’s story today for his good purpose.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV) 

What a glorious time this is for all of us to slow down and share our stories and to learn to grow from one another in faith. No matter what circumstances we have faced and will face in the future, there is such a peace in knowing that our God, Yahweh, is always there for us. 

All we have to do, as I learned in study of the Minor Prophets and throughout the Bible, is to turn away from the ways of the world and turn to Him for all things.  He is always there. He will never turn away from us. 

His right hand is reaching out to you and me to guide us through the next chapter of our stories for His Glorious “Best Seller” in the Book of Life.  We are His stories.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
– Proverbs 3:5-6 

This season, take time to sit with a family member, friend or colleague and ask them about their story – their life. Celebrate the joys of all that you will  learn from one another. Encourage one another with love and hope.

“So, now, wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises!  Discover creative ways to encourage others  and to motivate them toward acts of compassion,
doing beautiful works as expressions of love.”
Hebrews 10:23-24 (TPT)