The Rest of Your Story 2: Picking Up Our Pens

 
To start from part one, click here.

It seems we all ask at some point...

"What's my role in writing the story of my life?"

On one side are those who say you shouldn't jot down a single word unless you know it's perfect.

On the other side are those who say you should just move forward with whatever you feel.

I believe we are called to be proactive partners with God in our story.

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This is an example...

One of my dear friends, Julie, longed for years to have a child and pursued adoption. She and her husband eventually contacted an orphanage in another country but didn't hear anything. Several months later, they had the opportunity to meet with family members of the couple who ran the orphanage.

They had difficulty getting together and only one specific day would work. At dinner, they prayed for Julie and her husband as well as the child they would one day adopt.

A few days later, Julie received a call that the orphanage had a newborn baby boy for them. When Julie considered the time difference, she realized that the mother was probably in labor when they prayed. God had timed the answer to years of longing down to the very minute.

Talking with Julie she said, "I don't think that means we were supposed to be passive--God was working everything out but we had to be moving forward too, even when we didn't have the answers or know exactly what He was doing."

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Julie's words have always stuck with me.

And they remind me of one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 19:21...

Many are the plans in a man's heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Will we always get it exactly right? Will every choice we make be the perfect one? No, of course not. But what those words say to me is that God can work it out if we're truly seeking Him.

When I look at the people God chose to follow Him, they're a rag-tag bunch that often made mistakes. It seems God values passion more than our idea of perfection. That doesn't mean following our feelings but rather pursuing Him relentlessly and refusing to become passive.

In the story of our lives, I think He's simply looking for hearts who are willing to pick up the pen and have the courage to try to write with Him.

He'll take care of the ending.

 

Are you joining us from the DaySpring devotional e-mail? I'm so glad you stopped by! For a great giveaway and a fun new challenge, go to The Rest of Your Story: Part 11!

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Comments

[dawn]

Great post, Holley...an important issue to think about cause it really affects how we handle life. I'm somewhere in the middle too. My dad always said "It's hard to steer a parked car"...suggesting the forward movement and allowing God to direct.

Looking forward to the rest of this series!

[Ruth]

what an encouraging post, Holley!

Looking forward to the rest of this series too!

God Bless!

[Kristen - Moms Sharpening Moms]

"God values passion more than perfection." Holy smokes, Holley! I am putting that on the fridge!

So blessed by this series! I can't wait to read the rest of it!

[jamie]

Wow, I just found your blog a couple of days ago and i am blown away by your posts. God has stirred something in me that requires me to trust, follow, and most of all be willing to ACT. Of course,I will not be perfect, i will fail at times but what an encouraging post to remind me that GOD is bigger than my worst failures. All He is requires for me is to join Him.

[Ashley]

Wow! This post really touched my heart and put things into prospective for me. I have been trying to make one of the biggest decisions of my life since August of 2009. I am now looking forward to writing my story and making this decision with God. Thanks, Holley.

[amy]

Holley,
I'm looking forward to this series, but I am sort of confused about this statement:

"On one side are those who say you shouldn't jot down a single word unless you know it's perfect and directly from God."

I'm not worried about the word "perfect" because I don't think I should ever wait until I can do something "perfectly"...but the waiting on direction from God part...when you have a minute would you please read my most recent blog post and help me understand what you are saying in relation to a recent decision I made?
Thank you so much!
Amy

[Cassandra Frear]

I've wrestled with this: God values passion more than perfection.

Honestly, I am not sure what to do with it.

Scripture also says: Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Heaven will be perfect. How I love that.

But perfect as God measures it. I think that is what I do not understand. I take comfort from this: one day I will be face-to-face with Him and I will know, just as I have been known.

For now, it is enough for me that He loves me, just as I am, and yet He's not satisfied. The One who began a good work in me will complete it. Doesn't that sound like being perfect?

And the "not perfect now" is covered with mercy.

He is full of grace and compassion toward us.

[Corinne]

This brings tears to my eyes (it's probably the cold meds...) because how easy is it to sit and say if something is meant to be God will take care of it? So easy. But we have to be active participants in our life, and His vision.

[Holley Gerth]

Amy, I think you have a great point. I didn't word that in the best way and went back to update it. I think what I said was confusing. I totally think we need to seek God's direction and that's very different than wanting things to be perfect! I hope my true intent is clearer now...and thanks for challenging me to look closer at my words!

[CECE]

Thank you! I've only started reading your blog but....WOW you have been an inspiration. God's purpose always prevails. Passion not perfection.
I LOVE IT!

[Holley Gerth]

Cassandra,
I heard once that the biblical word for "perfect" actually means whole or complete. When I think about the verse you mentioned in that context, it really changes the true meaning for me. We're whole or complete in Christ.

When I said God values passion over perfection I was thinking of people like Peter who made his share of mistakes but also passionately loved Jesus. It seems Jesus chose him because his heart was right and he was willing to take action rather than being paralyzed by fear.

I, too, wrestle with the idea of what perfection really means...those are just some thoughts.

[Patty]

We have so many examples of this in scripture. People that God called out for His purposes and they pursued what He led ~ Noah, Abraham, David, Paul ~ as God gave plans and directions they had to act on what He said, to pick up their pens, if you please. Isn't it a blessing that He calls us to walk and work with Him, and that He gives us freedom to explore each day.

[Alana]

God can work it out if we're truly seeking Him... that's just what I needed today. I truly need God to work some stuff out... and I needed to be reminded that my part is to seek Him... not fix it myself.

[Amy V]

I've always been one to go with my feelings. God's teaching me that I can't live life based on my 'flesh' or 'feelings'. Feelings are fleeting but God's promises last forever. Therefore I'm working on listening to my heart and reading His word for guidance. In the past I'd react to a situation based on how it made me feel; if it made me angry, I'd yell or say an unkind word; if it made me sad I'd cry and pout-you get the idea.

I'm not saying feelings are wrong, but that sometimes we need to rein in our feelings and use some self=control! I know I do at times.

I want to work WITH the God of the universe!

-Amy

[~Grace & Peace]

"It seems God values passion more than our idea of perfection."

Thank you for this, Holley - from someone who struggles with perfection my entire life.

This is timely. I have an opportunity presented to me that I am pondering. Praying for God to give me clear direction and for Him to pave the way.

[Jay]

I believe that as well that God can work it out if we are truly seeking Him.

[Samuel]

God blees you ,

Te digo gracias para tpdo las istorias , ienas de fe .
Me ayuda para creser y ser mas ceca de my padre Dios.

Iosua cap 1 versiculo 5, 7-9.

Samuel

[Linda]

Thanks for the reminder to pick up the pen and live with passion vs. perfection. My brother talked to me about some of that kind of stuff earlier this week. There have been times the fear of falling short of "perfection" have kept me from moving forward and trying something new. Sometimes it isn't as much being "good enough" as pliable enough to be molded. Hah, I was just reminded to relax, not stiffen up, and allow the Master Potter to shape me. The sense I got was more of a gentle massaging type of forming rather than the forming that needs to take place when I resist. Resisting what God has for me puts more pressure and discomfort on myself. I'm glad I started typing cause I really needed to hear that word from the Lord for me. :) Grateful to be complete and accepted in Christ. Sure like the feel of HIS hands on my shoulders.

[Flybabymom]

I couldn't agree more. I've personally experienced this phenomenon, and in some very significant ways. God is working, and if we're willing--given over to His will, no matter what it is--He will work in and for us, too. Wonderful post. Thanks, Holley!

[wendy thomas]

thank you for this post which tied in with a verse in my bible reading today from James 4 :17 which says remember it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.so often we have dreams or a call from god and fear holds us back from doing it .........the fear of failure or the fear of having misheard and it not being from God after all.God always looks after us and sees us through and honours our wanting to follow him and do his will.

[Dee]

Writing has always been an outlet for me. I wrote poems as a young woman living with alcoholic parents. I always said that God helped me turn my pain into beauty. Not everyone saw the poems as beautiful, but I did because they incapsulated my pain into a beautiful vignette of truth. If pain was there, it was real and it was honest and God saw it. I find that journaling gives me an outlet for what I'm thinking and feeling so I can look back and see patterns in struggles, joys, triumphs, insights and discoveries. My walk with Abba is so intimate that I feel I can tell Him just how I feel and we go from there. I feel His light fill me even when my honesty is caustic. I've found that he is tough enough to take all my true feelings and turn them into understanding and point me to the truth and healing. Life is not easy for anyone, but God is just the best friend anyone can have. He never shrinks from any pain I have to share and his light comforts and sustains me.

[Nicole E]

Hi Holley
God Bless you for this piece....it's amazing how much we time we waste 'waiting' for God...when He's waiting for us to do something about the challenges we face. God has given us His all and He expects us to put His word to work and activate our 'miracles'

[Meg]

How very true. My husband and I have talked about this very issue before. Sometimes all we have to do is take one giant step forward into the unknown and wait for Him to work the results.

[Leonore]

I believe we are "proactive" as God gives us the freedom of choice in any situation.

I think God wants us to be "co-creators" with Him, in the lives that we create.

I believe that we are judged by our "intent", not necessarily by the "perfect" action.

[Shannon]

I think it is so important to remember this! I know I am guilty of "sitting in it," so to speak and that inertia can be totally crippling, whether it's something we want or are striving towards. Sometimes the things you do on the way are the most important ones of all.