A Story Inside of a Story

"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." - Jeremiah 10:23

I like to plan things out.  I like to know exactly what my next step will be because I fear the unknown.  I always have.  I think that many of you can relate to that.

Donald Miller writes a book entitled A Million Miles in A Thousand Years.  It is an amazing book about stories and what makes up a good story.  He more or less describes God as the master storyteller.  We are each living out a story but our story fits in with a much larger story of creation, love, and redemption.  As humans, we all have free will.  We have the ability to use our own creativity and write into our story.  We can either make it a better story or make it story not worth reading about.  Within our free will and creativity, there is still God.  God still has ultimate control over our story but it is whether or not we allow Him to write into it.

God spoke all of creation into being.  All of creation involves you and I.  He chose us to be characters in His story.  We can either allow Him to use us in this story or opt out and live a much worse life than what God has to offer.  When we allow God to write out our story, He still gives us access to the pen.  God isn't a dictator, He still allows us to make our own decisions.  We will make decisions in our life that may not be inherently bad, they seem like really good decisions.  However, they do not line up with the story that God has set out for us that fits in with His larger story.  When this happens, God will gently lead us back into the story that He has envisioned for us.

Going into college, I knew for sure that I should major in Food and Nutrition and become a nutritionist.  False.  God took that decision and gently led me into a major in Communication Studies.  I then thought that I should go straight to graduate school after I got my bachelor's degree.  False.  God gently led me to the mountains of Colorado where I was a summer camp counselor and then an intern this fall.  After my internship ended I thought that I needed to have a job and place to live the day after it ended.  False.  God gently led me back home where I currently am.  He lead me here to rest and to continue a job search and apartment search from home.  God allowed me to use my own creativity and make my own decisions.  However, God knew that these decisions were not the best for me.  None of them are inherently bad, they just are not what God has planned for me.

We can try to direct our own steps, but our life is not our own.  We are a part of a much larger story.  We have freedom in this story but if we are continually seeking after God then He will always lead us back to where He wants us.  Never fear that you are making the wrong the decision.  Even if you make a decision that is not in God's plan for your life, He will ALWAYS lead you back where you need to be.  Remember, God is the master storyteller.  Allow Him to write you story.

Kelsey J.

Floating Axehead

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees.  As one of them was cutting down a tree.  The iron axehead fell into water.  "Oh my Lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!" The man of God (Elisha) asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place.  Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.  "Lift it out," he said, then he and reached out his hand and took it. - 2 Kings 6:4-7

I don't know if you know this or not, but iron does not float.  Ducks float.  Iron sinks.

Every time I read this story, I am reminded of the greatness of God.  At first glance, you may think that Elisha is the one to make iron float.  No, no it was more than definitely God who made the iron float.

In my life, I have noticed a cycle that I am continually being caught up in.  I think that I am able to do things out of my own will and strength.  I soon find myself failing.  Then after I fail, I realize that there is a power that far surpasses my own.  God can quite literally do anything.  He created everything that this universe holds and can bend any law of science or physics in order for His power to be displayed.  When we have accepted Christ into our lives, we have the power of God living within us.  It wasn't Elisha who made the iron axehead float, it was the power of God within Elisha that made the iron axehead float.  Elisha understood the greatness of God and that with the power of God living within Him, anything was possible.  This story is a reminder that we are only human.  Without God we can accomplish very little.  With God, however, there is no limit of what we are able to accomplish.

The iron axehead in this story can be used as a metaphor for things that are impossible with our own strength in our lives.  What in your life seems impossible right now?  Are you relying on your own strength or the strength that is living within you?  Realizing the power of God is simply realizing that you can do nothing on your own. Once you realize this power, the seemingly impossible can happen.  With God nothing is impossible.  Rely on His strength.  Believe that the impossible can happen.

Kelsey J.