Here’s the problem with that: If my story is all there is, the disasters in my life are meaningless! They are just chaotic shipwrecks that steal from the flow of a story that I believe should be happy. In fact, with this mind-set, much of life seems meaningless. Anything that is not happy seems bad, and it will make me angry, probably bitter, and possibly even more panicked to grab happiness wherever I can find it. But this angst and disappointment could be avoided if I would choose to see that my life isn’t the story.

Those of us who tend to get caught up in this cycle can instead choose to look at our lives the way God does. At first, it may hurt our pride to think of our lives as merely a chapter in a bigger story but, in reality, it is the best gift we could possibly receive. With this wider perspective, we can see how the stories of those who are long dead actually introduce and impact our stories. We can learn from their mistakes and possibly avoid these mistakes altogether. The things they struggled against and the things they learned can be learned by us without having to go through the flames they did. This perspective is good because of its practical benefits, but it is even better for its eternal, spiritual rewards.

If our stories are just individual chapters in the full story—God’s story—they give meaning to everything. Disasters are not random bits of chaos. We may not know why they happen, but as Christians we can be certain they have meaning because the story is being authored by God. If we begin to feel panicked that our chapters might not end happily, we can rest in the fact that the ends of our chapters are not the end of the story. Our stories and God’s story will come together and go on for eternity, filled with adventure and comedy and music and amazing feats and all kinds of things we cannot even begin imagine. Looking at our lives as small chapters in a much larger story will elevate the meaning of everything we do. Our choices and actions will send ripples throughout eternity, throughout the rest of the story. The real story. The story.

We are not alone. We do not live meaningless lives. We believers are part of the most amazing adventure ever written, and it will go on for all of eternity. A change in perspective, coupled with solid knowledge of the truth, can make all the difference in the world.

David Carl is the Creative Director of Insight for Kids, the children’s ministry of Insight for Living and creator of Paws & Tales, heard on over 450 radio outlets worldwide and to a growing online audience through webcasts and podcasts. Launched as a weekly radio drama for kids in 2001 by Insight for Living, Paws & Tales teaches children biblical theology through story, humor, and music.
Doing what is right rarely comes without a cost. Teaching your children the hard lesson of always choosing what is right, no matter the sacrifice, requires a lot of attention and loving patience. The Adventures in Theology Kit introduces your child to essential biblical concepts like this in a powerful and easy way. Visit our Web site at www.insight.org/parents to discover more.