Oh, could I tell you the dangers of trying to write your own story.
It feels empowering at first—taking the pen, setting the course, deciding exactly how life should unfold. You dream, you plan, you push forward. But here’s the hard truth: you can spend years heading down a path that God never intended for you.
Sometimes it’s because you’re too afraid of the unknown. It’s safer to cling to the familiar, even if it’s not fruitful.
Other times, it’s because you’ve convinced yourself you know how the story should end—what redemption should look like, what healing should mean, and exactly how God should work in your life.
But when you insist on being the author, you limit the story to the boundaries of your own imagination. And our imagination, no matter how vivid, will never match the beauty and wisdom of God’s plans.
God Writes Better Stories
Scripture doesn’t promise that we get to control the narrative—it promises something better: that God Himself is the author. Hebrews 12:2 calls Jesus “the author and perfecter of our faith.” That means He not only begins the story, but He also knows how to bring it to completion.
When we try to take over, we’re essentially saying, “God, I think I can handle this ending better than You.” But Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
We can make plans, but only God sees the full picture—past, present, and future.
The Danger of Self-Written Redemption
When you script your own version of redemption, you risk settling for a lesser ending. You might think reconciliation with one person, or achieving a certain goal, is the pinnacle of your healing. But God often has layers of restoration you can’t yet see—healing wounds you didn’t even know you had, redeeming not just your situation but your heart.
Joseph’s story in Genesis is a perfect example. If Joseph had written his own ending, it probably wouldn’t have included betrayal by his brothers, slavery, accusations of adultery or years in prison. But those chapters—painful as they were—led to a redemption far greater than anything he could have imagined: saving nations from famine, reconciling with his family, and glorifying God in the process (Genesis 50:20).
Trusting the Author
There is so much healing and redemption in letting God write your story. Only He knows the path you truly belong on.
When I am reminded that I could have missed out on the blessings that I have now I am humbled. I would have never chosen this road for myself, but it is good, and God has redeemed so many beautiful moments for me and for my children.
Psalm 139:16 says, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Before you took your first breath, God already knew your story from beginning to end. And unlike us, He writes with eternal perspective, perfect justice, and unshakable love.
If you trust Him with the pen, you will see a story unfolding that is better than anything you could have scripted for yourself.
So, if you find yourself gripping the pen tightly today, maybe it’s time to lay it down. Hand it back to the Author who knows every chapter, who redeems every broken scene, and who has already written the most beautiful ending imaginable.
Praying for you as you step into an unknown future that is known by God above!
