There is always a ‘story’ behind ‘the story’. Any story that now consists of blessings and success usually has behind it a story of struggle, risk or tragedy. These types of stories have usually been met ‘head on’ with obedience, courage or faith. Great people who have accomplished great things are normally just ordinary people who have surrendered their current scenario through radial faith, while facing adversity with a tenacious courage to believe that what ‘can be’, is better than ‘what is’. Most people don’t experience great gain without first having experienced a great set back. People who now are experiencing much, have been given that opportunity by risking the unknown, through blind obedience, surrender, and faith. Surrender, obedience, sacrifice, risk, courage, and faith are all ingredients that can change an outcome. The ‘story of your life’, doesn’t have to be… ‘the story of your life’. When someone says, “that’s the story of my life”, they are usually referring to a negative reoccurrence. But, what would happen if you had the audacity to believe it could be different?
Let’s look at a few biblical scenarios where the story changed and the outcome became obviously different…
• Elisha Burned Everything and Followed Elijah. (I Kings 19:19) / *(II Kings 13:21)
> Elisha’s ‘Story‘ could have been: “he was out in a field plowing with his oxen.”
>> Instead… he was able to see twice as many miracles as Elijah, and even in his death, the miracles continued when the band of Moabites threw a dead body in his grave, and the dead body came to life… What if he would have just kept plowing? Or, what if he would have kept his plow and oxen?
• Ruth Left Her Native Country (all she knew). (Ruth 1:6) – Ruth 2 & 4
> Ruth’s ‘Story‘ could have been: she lived in Moab on a piece of land her husband left her… wondering whatever happened to her mother-in-law?
>> Instead… she married Boaz and set on the porch with her mother in law, being served by servants, watching the hired hands work in the field that her and her new husband now owned. She also had a baby named Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. She is now in the lineage of Jesus… What if she had stayed in the land that was familiar?
• The Woman With the Issue of Blood Risk Everything to Be Healed. (Mark 5)
> The Woman With the Issue of Blood’s ‘Story‘ could have been: “there was a women who had an issue of blood. She went to every doctor in town and spent all she had… and never got any better.”
>> Instead… she was able to be healed, have peace, and be made well… What if she would have stayed home that day?
• The Little Lad – Gave All He Had. (Matthew 14) “When you give all you have God will give you more than you began with.”
> The Little Lad’s ‘Story‘ could have been: my mom packed a nice lunch that I ate while everyone else went hungry.
>> Instead… he was an eye witness to one of the greatest miracles of Jesus’ ministry. He was able to bless others, not just satisfy his own needs. He was the only one who didn’t have a need, but through his surrender, courage and faith, he gave what he had, to meet the needs of others. He was also able to eat more than his mom had packed him. And, He watched as the disciples gathered up 12 baskets full of leftovers… What if he had kept his lunch that day?
• The Man On the Mat Left All He Had Known. (the familiar & comfortable). (John 5) – *do you want to be made well?
> The Mans ‘Story‘ could have been: there was a man who had been disabled for over thirty eights years… he was laid by the pool daily as he watched others being made well of whatever ailment they had.
>> Instead… his story was, he picked up his mat and was immediately made well. He got up and conquered what had conquered him and carried the very thing that comforted him… What if he had continued to lay there and be critical instead of getting up in faith?
• The Disciples Left Their Livelihood and the Biggest Catch of Their Lives. (Luke 5)
> The Disciples ‘Story‘ could have been: after a useless day of fishing, the fishermen washed their nets, put up their boats, and they went home that morning tired and frustrated from fishing all night and catching nothing!
>> Instead… they caught the biggest catch of their careers. Left all they had, and all they knew, to follow the savior of the world, to become fishers of men… now having front row seats, to the miracles; sharing in the life, the legacy, and the ministry of Jesus… What if they hadn’t said, “nevertheless Lord, at your word we will go out into the deep and let down our nets for another catch?
What do you need to surrender so that your ‘Story‘ can be different? Your life? Your family? Your future? Your finances? Your children? Your spouse? Your career? It seems that when we try to hold on to what we really need to let go of, it never goes well. However, It also seems when people give up and go “all in”, that’s when God goes “all out.” What are you willing to surrender? Quit trying and surrender. Quit struggling and surrender. Nonetheless, surrender is never easy and what if you’re like me, what if you feel like you have surrendered in obedience, yet, you still haven’t seen a tangible result? What do you do then? I tell you what you do… YOU SURRENDER and YOU TRUST, because just like these biblical accounts we just looked at, you never know what could be waiting… on the other side of your surrendered trust!
