The Stories Of Our Lives

Psalm 150

Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD! (Psalm 150:6)

EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD STORY. In fact, the human brain is wired to learn through storytelling. We remember stories, images, and illustrations far better than we remember quotes, facts, and propositional truth—which explains why Jesus told parables and God gave us a book full of visual imagery, life stories, and profound metaphors. We grasp what we experience with our senses more easily and deeply than we process information. We are captivated by good plots and memorable scenes.

If we want to communicate the gospel to the world, then we will have to do so through stories—lives lived, situations experienced, and creative arts displayed for all to see. That doesn’t mean every work of Christian literature, every piece of Christian art, and every Christian movie needs to present the plan of salvation or include a John 3:16 quote. It does, however, mean that the grand themes of redemption and restoration need to echo throughout. Hope is the property of God; we are to use it to reach a world that needs him.

The entertainment industry has come a long way toward that end, even when it hasn’t intended to. Books and movies incorporating redemptive themes from Christian authors and artists—the works of a Tolkien or Lewis, the biographies of a Wilberforce or Bonhoeffer, the efforts at capturing biblical storylines—have touched hearts and drawn people toward the beauty of ultimate restoration. But even more compelling than the stories of the big screen are the stories of our lives. The ways we navigate difficult challenges, the ways we orient our entire lives toward God, and the ways we see redemptive threads in everything we go through can profoundly shape others’ lives. We don’t just experience the gospel. We live it. And in living it, we preach it, with and without words.

Be creative—in every form of real life and in artistic expression. The world needs living, breathing examples of humility, affirmation, redemption, integrity, inspiration, and hope. Tell those stories often. Even better, be one.

{Lord, my story is full of bad turns, apparent plot holes, and missteps—but also full of hope and promises of restoration. Use it as you will. May every story I tell, idea I have, and work I accomplish point to themes of glory. Amen.