The Author’s Great Story – At the Movies
I often find myself planning out my day, creating a schedule or checklist in the morning. (Sometimes, I get proactive and do it the night before.) Yet, even when I carefully schedule my day, it often gets messed up. The cookies I baked took longer than anticipated. The math lesson was harder than I thought it would be. None of these are bad things, but when they mess up my “perfect” plan, I get frustrated, stressed, and anxious.
Last weekend, as part of the At the Movies series, we watched Passengers. Aurora, one of the main characters, had perfectly planned out her life. She was going to travel to a new planet in hypersleep, write a story about her adventures, then travel back to Earth so everyone could read her book. She had a plan and nothing could stop her.
Except Aurora woke up earlier than she had planned. When she found out that Jim, the man she loved and the only other alert passenger on board, was the one who roused her, she was irate. Her “perfect” plan to become an acclaimed author was ruined, and there was nothing she could do about it. She had lost all of her (alleged) control.
In reality, the Bible tells us that we are never in control. God is the real author, the real storyteller. Time and again, when God’s children try to create their own stories, they are directed back onto his path. The Israelites walked in the desert for forty years after choosing to disobey. King Ahab died in a battle after God warned him not to go to war. Mary gave birth to the Son of God, something she never even imagined. Even Jesus prayed for God to remove his suffering, but only if it was his Father’s will.
Proverbs 16:9
We make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 19:21
You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Aurora eventually chose to live her story, rather than planning it all out. This choice brought her more love, freedom, and adventure than her own plans would have ever allowed. When we trust God with his perfect story for our lives, we experience the same—love, freedom, and adventure beyond comparison.
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 12:2
Don’t follow the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Questions:
When do you attempt to assert the most control over your own life and make your own plans? Are you willing to allow God to write your story, rather than trying to pick up the pen yourself? How can you direct your trust to God?
Next Steps:
Pay attention to the times you start planning to write your own story. Pray for God to help you trust and rely on him completely. Freely give your plans to the Author of your story.
Prayer:
Great Author, your story is beyond comparison! Thank you for allowing me to be a character in it. I have repeatedly tried to become the author. Help me to trust that your story is good and pleasing and perfect. You are giving me more love, freedom, and adventure than I can imagine! What a relief it is not to be in control. Amen.
This post was written by Lydia Snyder. Lydia has been a story-lover for as long as she can remember, often found reading books or writing. She is thrilled to be making a difference by inspiring others to take part in the best story ever – God’s story. Lydia lives with her three wonderful siblings and two amazing parents.
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