“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted … to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61:1b, 3a (NIV)

“Mommy, tell me a story.”

That was a common request when my son was a little guy. Whether riding in the car, getting a haircut, or being tucked in at bedtime, Steven loved for me to tell him a story. The one requirement for my made-up tales was that Steven had to give me the first line. “Okay, buddy,” I’d say, “What’s the first sentence?”

“Once upon a time there was a leaf …”
“Once upon a time there was a snail …”
“Once upon a time there was a tree …”
“Once upon a time there was a dragon …”
And so, the tale would begin.

Everybody loves a good story, but not everybody loves their own story. Mistakes pile high like weeks-old laundry. Shame whispers, “If they only knew.” Tear-stained pages warp and cause the volume to fall open to unwanted pages. Dog-eared corners mark traumatic happenings we keep going back to in order to make sense of it all. Some pages have spots worn thin from rubbing a mental eraser over words that won’t go away. Lines we’ve tried to cross out instead stand out and taunt us. We’ve all got them — unwanted pages. Yes, I’d like a different story, please.

For most of us, it is not the whole of our stories we don’t like, but just certain parts. Our tragedies, traumas and too-dark-to-tell memories may be different, but the pain is the same.

A husband left.
A boyfriend cheated.
A friend betrayed.
A parent abused.
A boss misused.
A disease ravaged.
A steering wheel jerked.
A gunshot fired.
A child died.

I don’t know the difficulties you’ve been through, but I do know your story doesn’t end there. There is more to be written, and God is even now dipping His pen into the inkwell of wholeness, writing your story and mine into His larger story. God turns broken stories into beautiful prose and unwanted pages into stunning narratives of victory. That’s not just a promise; it’s a bedrock truth — one I know from personal experience.

But God never intends for us to stay stuck in our past pain. He longs to heal the broken places and fill the empty spaces. The Bible says this about Jesus through the prophetic words of Isaiah:

“… the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3a, NIV).

Isn’t it amazing God can take our darkest chapters and turn them into our greatest victories? He can, you know. But He does require our cooperation. Great beauty can come from our marred and tattered stories. Immense light can emerge from our darkest and most desperate days. It was only when I turned the broken pieces of my life over to God that He showed me how to have a better story.

I want to encourage you today: Don’t get stuck in the pain place or the shame place. Keep moving ahead and pray for God to show you how to turn your mourning into dancing.

Lord, sometimes I just don’t like my story. However, I know You can use every single page to bring glory to Your name. Show me how I can move from mourning to dancing and from ashes to beauty in each chapter of my story. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES

Everyone likes a good story, but not everyone likes their own story. Let 2021 be the year you turn your worst chapters into your greatest victories. Sharon Jaynes’ book, When You Don’t Like Your Story: What If Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories?, is available today!

CONNECT

Visit Sharon’s When You Don’t Like Your Story Bible Study Facebook page and sign up to go through the book with a group of women to learn how your worst chapters can become your greatest victories!

REFLECT AND RESPOND

What is one chapter in your life you long for God to redeem — to turn it around and use for good? Share with us in the comments!

© 2021 by Sharon Jaynes. All rights reserved.