More to the Story

What if we didn’t read the end of a story? What if we stopped reading when the hero started experiencing pain? What if you didn’t read far enough to see the redemption? What if we stopped watching the movie when it got to the painful parts? Have you ever stopped to think- “Hey there must be more to the story?”

Redemption is the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment. When we speak about God’s redeeming love- do we have the capacity to understand what that truly means? If you stop reading a book in the middle of the story- you risk missing the redemption. There is simply more to the story.

What about our lives? In my line of work, I witness trauma after trauma and the question that is always posed is why would a good God let this kind of terror happen?” What is so good about a God like that- I don’t want to be associated with a God like that. Trauma often holds people captive and disables them from being able to experience life to the full. I have personally experienced this phenomenon. But what if I focused on the trauma and the abuse instead of the redemption? I would miss that there was simply more to the story.

In our current circumstances, there may be suffering. There may be scars. There may be pain. But I can tell you from personal experience- redemption is waiting on the other side. What if my story was meant to tell a deeper story of redemption? Would the pain in my personal circumstance be worth it?

What if I could take a bird’s eye view of my life and see the end of the story. Would it make a difference in my view of my personal circumstance?

Whenever I stop to think about trauma and abuse in the Bible, my mind immediately goes to Joseph. I can relate to his story so I cannot help but call this story to mind.

Joseph was an integral part of God bringing the Israelites to redemption and eventual domicile in the Promised Land. But what I find most intriguing about Joseph’s story is the fact he was able to spot and identify God’s redemptive hand amidst his circumstances. He looked his abusers in the eyes and said- “What you intended to be my detriment, God meant for good- and I forgive you.”

Instead of remaining parked at the point of his pain, he looked past his circumstance and allowed God to sow redemptive seeds in his life. In fact, all of this was simply part of the plan. But what if Joseph was not able to see there was more to the story, what would have become of the Israelites?

Another aspect of the story of Joseph is the giftings God has placed in his hands. God gave him the gift of dream interpretation or as we would call it now- the gift of prophesy. God made Joseph a steward of this gift and trusted him to use it for redemptive purposes. In fact, God is constantly at work and never wastes an opportunity to reveal his glory.

In order to understand Joseph and the redemptive power, we need to first start at the beginning of the story. Due to jealousy, his brothers sold him into Egyptian slavery. They ambushed him and threw into a deep pit, lying wait to his destiny. He was abandoned by his own flesh and blood. Betrayed. It would have been so easy for Joseph to remain bitter and parked at the point of his pain. This moment changed the trajectory of his life. He married an Egyptian woman and planted his roots in Egypt. This was the first game changing moment. From then on, his life would never be the same again. He probably had no idea how much this moment would positively define his life. But God knew better, he had a plan to take his pain and create beauty from it. Isaiah 61- beauty from ashes. Perspective. Moving past the point of pain.

The pain he endured were simply God’s mercies in disguise. This is true for me and it is true for you. We never know what this beauty will look like or how long it will take to come to fruition. In Joseph’s situation, the roots started forming immediately when he reached Egypt.

He made his gift known. He planted seeds with those he interacted with, and God raised him up.

Eventually he came in contact with his abusers saying, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

Even though Joseph didn’t have insight to the end of the story, he knew that God has intended it for good. To redeem it. To restore beauty where once was ashes. If Joseph would have lost hope in the midst of the abuse, stayed parked at the point of his pain, he may never have seen the glory of redemption.

God heaped his redemptive power on the situation and instead of an even exchange for his pain, he received a divine exchange- more than he could have ever imagined. There simply was more to the story.

So where does this leave us? If we stay parked at the point of our pain, we risk missing the beauty of redemption. In your pain, amidst your trauma, remember, there is more to the story!

Let this be your hope and the anchor you cling to- when it feels as if your current circumstances are more than you can handle. Declare it and call this to mind when your pain feel more than you can bear- there is more to the story!