The Characters in God's Story

I scoop away mulch and sprinkle old, ugly seeds into the fresh-made furrows, covering them with dirt and woodchips

My hands pull a sheet of wire over the raised bed to prevent the barn cats from turning it into a litter box. Then Daddy helps me gently water the soil. I pray for rain; I dream of a fall harvest, if only the frost holds off long enough.

I'm a hopeful gardener as I stuff the partially used bag of wrinkled seeds into the freezer for another season. Like the beauty-less husks of the seeds that can produce so rich a harvest, I'm reminded:

God can use anyone in His story.

Oh, what a reason to praise Him!

As 2025 dawned, I read the book of Genesis and wondered at the characters God selected:

Noah built an ark.

Abraham left his home to enter unknown lands.

Jacob wrestled with God and fathered the 12 tribes of Israel.

Joseph saved Egypt (and the world) from starvation.

The accounts are amazing... but after several memorable, amazing feats that God did in their lives, they died. Another character rose up to continue the story.

As I read, I wondered who the hero of the story was when these guys had such little (though significant) moments in the story. Who is the Story of this world, the Story of history truly about?

I realized: the Hero is God.

All along. From history past to this current moment to the years to come, God is writing a story, and He is the Hero of it. And He delights to use people to be characters in His narrative.

(is that crazy amazing, or what?!)

He worked in Noah, in Abraham, in Jacob, in Joseph, because they knew He was the Main Character, and they trusted in Him. Thousands of years have passed—those characters have gone—and it's our turn.

I look at my own life, and I'm tempted to either think I'm the Main Character of this world's story (ha) or maybe I'm not a character God can use at all.

I'm a wrinkled seed in a package, tucked in the freezer, and I wonder how on earth I could ever produce a harvest. I read stories of other "seeds" who did awesome works for the Lord—missionaries who traveled to dangerous places, people who lived by radical obedience, friends today who walk in boldness knowing their God can do mighty things.

Those little stories are amazing... but they're from naturally broken, sinful people like me who have no ability to muster up fruit out of their own little abilities.

We're seeds in a freezer. We can't do much.

But faith.

The Biblical people in Genesis were servants of God. They believed God's promises and banked their whole lives on Him, and God used them as side characters in His huge story.

Can I give my entire life to serve and support Jesus—my Hero?

Can I have grace to see the weaknesses in myself and in my brothers and sisters while knowing God is at work anyway?

Can I humbly trust that the God who saved the earth from a flood and adorns the skies with His rainbow of promise can also use us—ordinary people—as we walk by faith in the Hero of the story?

Can I strip my eyes off me and the judgement in my soul and fall at His feet in joy that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because He paid my entire price on the cross, and the coming Restoration and Judgement on the Day of the Lord (aka, the climax) is going to be so good for the children of God?!

Can my life be given for the Hero?

Today, may I be simply a seed... one who knows her Gardener well and trusts Him for the planting, the soil, the water, the growth, and the produce because He selected her lovingly for this purpose.

May I joy in simply being a character in God's story and joy in Jesus being the Hero.

May I lift up the other characters because they too are essential to this tale and deeply beloved by the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Father, help us be characters in Your story well.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him...

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth...

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

Hebrews 11:6, 13, 16

~♥~