Seeking God Through Story

Over twelve years ago I started blogging, telling stories of faith and family. It started with our adoption journey, in a space called BoyMom. A few years later, in preparation for publishing The Covenant Story, my son helped me create this website. Seeking God Through Story. Recently as I’ve been making decisions regarding website and blog, I’ve also been pondering my purpose in writing. Why do I tell these stories? Who are they for? What is my mission? 

Years ago, when my boys were in high school, I led a prayer group at their school. Every Thursday morning a small group of students would gather for breakfast (usually doughnuts I purchased at Kwik Trip, or homemade cinnamon rolls baked by Mrs. Fregeau) and we’d begin by asking a question: Who wants to share a God-story? 

This is the question I continue to ask myself each time I sit down to write. What God-story do I have to share? 

I started blogging during the months our family waited to bring Felipe and Jimmy home to Minnesota. None of us had any idea what to expect. But through writing I developed a practice of putting God at the center of the story. Repeatedly I typed out those words: God, I trust you. I wrote it until I believed it. Once at a writer’s conference I heard a teacher say, “We don’t write what we know. We write until we know.” 

That’s it. 

Sharing God-stories can be powerful for both the teller and the listener/reader. Writing has been a way for me to process life as though God were the author, which of course He is. I’m always looking for His presence, His movement, His surprises. I could easily keep these stories between just God and me. (For many years I did most of my writing in journals.) But like those Thursday mornings at the school, sharing God-stories can have a ripple effect. We are happier and healthier—holier, too—when we make a habit of looking for God together.

My husband and I are a part of a small group at our church. We began meeting about a year ago, which is to say, the relationships are relatively new. Over the summer someone suggested we take turns sharing our “life stories” with each other, and it’s been powerful. I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a group that’s taken this approach. This kind of sharing requires vulnerability, and it can be a bit scary, especially for those whose stories are more complex and difficult. It’s an incredible privilege to be invited to steward intimacies, trusting each other at such a personal level. Often the stories are unexpected, and painful to hear, but as we share them, our love for each other grows deep and authentic. When we’re apart, as my friends come to mind, I’m struck by how much I love them.

Most of the people in our small group are around my age, give or take a decade. And the beautiful thing about our life narratives is that each of us has found our way to Jesus. Which means we’re all telling God-stories. Even the chapters we’d rather erase have been re-scripted by God’s grace. Beauty from ashes, there’s nothing He can’t redeem. One of our friends is a therapist, and she recently told me about a practice called Immanuel Prayer—a way to look back and visualize God’s presence at each stage of life. I think this might also be what’s happening each time we meet, as one by one we retell our stories. 

This morning, as I was thinking about all of this, the Spirit brought Psalm 23 to mind. I imagined each scene of David’s poem as chapters in our lives. Decade by decade, our Good Shepherd guides our paths. And as we turn around and look back, we can see what’s always been true. Goodness and hesed love have been following close on our heels. 

The Lord is my shepherd;


I have what I need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;


he leads me beside quiet waters.


He renews my life;


he leads me along the right paths


for his name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,


I fear no danger,


for you are with me;


your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me


in the presence of my enemies;


you anoint my head with oil;


my cup overflows.


Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me


all the days of my life,


and I will dwell in the house of the Lord


as long as I live.

Psalm 23 (CSB)