A
few weeks ago, I began writing a novel. I love writing and have always wanted
to push my limits and go big. When summer came around, I saw it as the perfect
opportunity. And so I began! Only one day in, I realized I needed to plan
first. I couldn’t write a story if I didn’t know where it was going, what the
struggles and excitements would be or who would bring the story to life. I
began mapping. I made a list of character names with a small description of
each. I then made a map of how these characters would relate to each other,
when they would meet and what they might look like at the end of this book. I
wrote down a few themes that I wanted to be sure stood out within the words on
each page and then I stood back and admired the chaos I had caused on paper.
At
first glance, it didn’t look like a smooth story. The twist, turns, ups and
downs make it seem almost impossible. But being the one who planned it all, I
knew that not only would it work out, it would also be beautiful in the end. I
began writing the introductory chapter soon after and I am currently a fourth
of the way through it!
As I
have been working on this novel, I have learned a lot more about God and His
plans than I ever expected to learn while writing. See, like myself, God had a
vision. He valued that vision so much that He decided to draw out a plan. He
developed characters, relationships, twists, lessons, romance, healing and so
much more. He knew what He wanted His ending to look like and sought out to
write a story that would make its way to such an ending. And that’s when He
wrote it! He wrote the story of my life. He did the same for you.
Often
times, I find myself in the first chapter, longing for the tenth. Or I find
myself in the middle of His novel, wanting to rush to get to the end. I
sometimes flip to the back, looking for an index to tell me when I’ll meet my
husband, how long I have to wait for my dream job or when I’ll welcome the
birth of my first child. But no index is to be found. As impatient as I
sometimes am, the lack of knowing has never really been easy for me. But what
I’ve been reminded of in this new adventure I’m on is that God is an amazing
writer. He is poetic, romantic, honest and thoughtful. Each chapter does not
give the answers for the next, but it sets a stage for learning and loving,
struggling and growing. And if we read with a desire to live in His will, it
will be the most riveting and consuming story we’ve ever read; The story of our
lives, written by none other than our Creator, Healer and Father.
In His Love, Brittany
