Everyone has their own story. And many times the events of our life are lessons for us alone. But sometimes our experiences are to serve as living examples for others as well.
For instance, God often called his prophets to use aspects of their personal life to serve as object lessons for others.
Isaiah was told to walk around naked and barefoot for three years as a sign of the troubles God was bringing, for example. And Hosea was told to marry Gomer, knowing her unfaithfulness, to serve as a picture of God’s redeeming love.
Likewise, in big and small ways, God might also call us to use aspects of our life to serve as examples for others.
This reminds us God is telling a much larger story than our personal lives. While it’s easy to assume good and bad experiences are about us, sometimes there is more going on.
This was the case when Jesus healed the man who was born blind. Others assumed he was blind because of his own sins or that of his parents. But Jesus said his blindness was to reveal the power of God through him.
Of course, there are many times in which God is trying to get our attention through the events of our life. And the personal beauty and sorrow we experience is often used to transform us and draw us closer to God.
And we’re part of a larger story in which much more is going on.
Perhaps God is using the events of our life to bless others even beyond our understanding.
We become too short-sighted and prideful when we believe everything that happens to us is about us.
Learn all the personal lessons from life you can. And remember the story is not about you. Stay open to how God might be using your life as a living example for others.
Photo by Ryan Pouncy on Unsplash
