Embracing Redemption: Trusting the Author of Our Stories
Summary
We are all drawn to stories—whether we read them, watch them, or live them. Deep within, there is a longing for the best story, one with a happy ending, a sense of redemption, and closure. This desire is not accidental; it is woven into the fabric of our humanity. Stories help us make sense of chaos, giving beginnings, middles, and endings to the events of our lives. Yet, when we look at our own stories, we often find ourselves in places that don’t seem to fit the narrative we hoped for. Sometimes, it feels as if the story has gone off the rails, or worse, that we’ve fallen off the cliff entirely.
In those moments, it’s easy to question the Author. We wonder if God is silent because He doesn’t care, or absent because He isn’t really there. The temptation is to take the pen and write our own story, to try to control the outcome. But when we do, the suffering that drove us away from God doesn’t disappear—it becomes the main character. The pain remains, and we lose the only story in which suffering and death do not get the final word.
The story of Jesus is unique in all of human history and philosophy: it is the one narrative where pain, suffering, and death are not victorious. Even when God seems silent, He is never absent. Sometimes, His presence is obvious; other times, He is hidden in plain sight, the whisper in the ear or the longing in the heart. The story of the young woman and the carrot reminds us that even in our most petulant, least spiritual moments, God can use us to bring hope and remind others of His love. He knows when to come in, and He is always working behind the scenes, even if the story doesn’t unfold as we would write it.
We each have a choice: to live in the story that ends in catastrophe, or to step into the story of redemption. The Christian story doesn’t promise that everything will be easy or that we’ll always get what we want, but it does promise that we are in the right story—one where the ending is good, where the Author is with us in the grave, and where resurrection is always possible. The happy ending is not a set of circumstances, but the presence of Jesus Himself—His joy, peace, and unconditional love. The invitation is to hold the line, to trust the Author, and to let Him write the story that leads us home.
Key Takeaways
- The longing for a happy ending is universal and deeply human, reflecting our innate desire for redemption and closure. This longing is not just a cultural artifact but a spiritual signpost pointing us toward the story God is telling in the world and in our lives. When we recognize this, we see that our dissatisfaction with unresolved or tragic endings is a clue to our true home in God’s redemptive narrative. [09:17]
- When life’s story seems to have gone off the rails—when we find ourselves not just hanging from a cliff but at the bottom, broken and confused—it is natural to question God’s authorship. Yet, these grave experiences are not the end; they are often the very places where God is most present, even if He seems silent. The challenge is to resist the urge to take the pen and write God out, for in doing so, we only magnify our suffering and lose the hope of redemption. [12:05]
- God’s silence is not the same as His absence. Sometimes, He is hidden in plain sight, present as the unfulfilled longing in our hearts or as the whisper at the edge of our awareness. Even when we act out of frustration or weakness, as in the story of the carrot, God can use our imperfect actions to bring about moments of grace and revelation for others. [17:36]
- The story of Jesus is the only narrative in which pain, suffering, and death do not get the final word. Every other worldview ultimately ends in catastrophe or uncertainty, but in Christ, the arc of the universe bends toward resurrection and redemption. To step into His story is to choose the only story where hope is guaranteed, even if the journey passes through the grave. [27:11]
- Our role is not always to wait passively for God to act; sometimes, we are called to be the agents of hope and redemption in the lives of others. We get to be the ones who bring the message of God’s love at just the right moment, stepping into the stories of those who have been waiting a long time for hope. The script is in our hands, and we are invited to participate in the best story ever told. [22:57]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:05] - The Gift-Giving Misadventure
[04:07] - The Carrot and the Unexpected Encounter
[05:50] - Why We Love Stories
[08:11] - The Universal Desire for Redemption
[10:20] - When Our Stories Go Wrong
[12:05] - The Grave Experience and Questioning God
[14:44] - Fears of God’s Silence and Absence
[16:39] - The Uniqueness of Jesus’ Story
[18:32] - The Carrot Story’s Resolution
[21:02] - God’s Perfect Timing
[22:57] - Becoming the Hero in Others’ Stories
[23:43] - Two Types of Story Arcs
[27:11] - The Arc of Redemption
[32:28] - Jesus as the Fulfillment of Every Longing
[36:30] - The Gospel in the Stories We Love
[38:47] - Choosing Your Story’s Ending
[40:31] - A New Beginning
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: “Living in the Best Story”
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### Bible Reading
- Luke 23:39-43 (The thief on the cross and Jesus’ promise of paradise)
- John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…”)
- Psalm 23:4 (“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Luke 23:39-43, what does the criminal on the cross ask Jesus, and how does Jesus respond? What does this reveal about Jesus’ character? [34:26]
2. According to John 3:16, what is the motivation behind God’s gift to the world? How does this connect to the idea of “happy endings” in stories? [02:05]
3. In the sermon, what was the significance of the carrot given to the young woman, and how did it impact her? [20:05]
4. The speaker describes two types of story arcs: one ending in catastrophe, and one in redemption. What are the key differences between these two arcs? [23:43]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do people have such a deep longing for stories with happy endings or redemption? How does the sermon connect this longing to our relationship with God? [09:17]
2. The speaker says that when we try to “take the pen” and write our own story, suffering becomes the main character. What does this mean, and why is it significant? [15:08]
3. The sermon claims that God’s silence is not the same as His absence. How might someone experience God’s presence even when He seems silent? [17:36]
4. In the story of the thief on the cross (Luke 23), what does Jesus’ response teach us about who gets to be part of God’s story of redemption? [34:57]
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### Application Questions
1. The speaker shared about feeling like life had “fallen off a cliff” and being in a “grave experience.” Have you ever felt like your story was off track or hopeless? How did you respond, and what might it look like to “hold the line” and trust God as the Author? [12:05]
2. When have you been tempted to “take the pen” and control your own story, especially during times of pain or confusion? What was the result? [15:08]
3. The carrot story shows that even our imperfect actions can be used by God. Can you think of a time when God used something small or unexpected in your life to encourage someone else? [20:05]
4. The sermon says, “Sometimes as Christians, it’s our turn to speak. We’ve got the script.” Who in your life might be waiting for a word of hope or love from you? What is one practical way you could step into their story this week? [22:22]
5. The speaker describes Jesus as “present in every story,” sometimes as a longing in our hearts. Where do you sense an unfulfilled longing in your own life, and how might that be pointing you toward Jesus? [31:29]
6. The sermon challenges us to “let the real star of the show lead.” What would it look like for you to give up being the main character in your own story and let Jesus lead? Is there a specific area where you need to do this? [39:20]
7. If you are in a season where God feels silent, what is one thing you can do this week to remind yourself of His presence, even if you can’t see or hear Him clearly? [17:36]
---
Closing Thought:
The invitation is to trust the Author, even when the story doesn’t make sense, and to step into the story of redemption where Jesus has the final word. What is one step you can take this week to live more fully in that story?
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Love Is Personal and Unexpected
God’s love often reaches us in the most surprising and ordinary ways, even when we least expect it or feel unworthy. Sometimes, a simple act or word—no matter how small or imperfect—can be the very thing that reminds someone of God’s enduring care. Even when we feel overlooked or forgotten, God is working behind the scenes, orchestrating moments that reveal His presence and love. You may not always see the impact of your actions, but God can use even your reluctant or imperfect efforts to touch someone’s heart and remind them that they are seen and loved. [21:02]
John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Reflection: Who in your life might need a simple reminder of God’s love today, and what small, unexpected act could you do to show it?
Day 2: Redemption Is the Story We’re Wired For
Every human heart longs for a story where brokenness is healed and endings are made right. This longing for redemption is not accidental—it is woven into us by our Creator. Even when life feels like it has fallen off a cliff or we are stuck in a grave experience, the Christian hope is that God specializes in turning tragedy into redemption. The story of Jesus is the ultimate narrative where pain, suffering, and even death do not get the final word. No matter how bleak your circumstances, you are invited into a story where hope and restoration are possible. [27:11]
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Reflection: Where in your life do you most long for redemption, and how might you invite God into that part of your story today?
Day 3: God’s Silence Is Not His Absence
There are seasons when God seems silent, and it’s easy to fear that He is distant or disinterested. Yet, even in the silence, God is present—sometimes hidden in plain sight, sometimes waiting in the wings, always knowing the right moment to step in. The Author of life has read the whole script and knows where your story is headed, even when you feel lost or forgotten. Trust that His timing is perfect, and that He is with you, even when you cannot hear His voice. [22:22]
Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV)
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
Reflection: When have you felt God’s silence most deeply, and how might you look for signs of His presence in your story this week?
Day 4: Jesus Turns Tragedy into Guaranteed Redemption
The story of Jesus is the only narrative where pain, suffering, and death do not get to win. While the world’s story may seem to end in catastrophe, Jesus offers a different arc—one that moves from the grave to resurrection, from despair to hope. This doesn’t mean every circumstance will resolve as we wish, but it does mean that, in Christ, we are in the story where the ending is secure and good. The happy ending is not just a change in circumstances, but the presence, peace, and love of Jesus Himself. [29:53]
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (ESV)
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reflection: What would it look like for you to trust Jesus with the ending of your story, even if you are still in the middle of the struggle?
Day 5: Let Jesus Be the Author of Your Story
We are often tempted to take the pen and write our own stories, especially when life feels out of control or God seems absent. But when we try to be the main character or the author, we find that suffering and pain remain, and the story rarely ends as we hope. True freedom and fulfillment come when we surrender our narrative to Jesus, allowing Him to lead and redeem. Today could be the start of a new chapter—one where you let the real star of the show take the lead and trust that His story for you is the best one. [40:31]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to put down the pen and let Jesus write the next part of your story?
Quotes
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