No matter who we are or how long we’ve believed a certain narrative about ourselves, God, or the world around us, there’s always something to be said for taking a thoughtful approach to the stories that shape our lives.
Take singer-songwriter Sara Groves, for example. Groves has been telling stories through music for decades. And yet, over the past few years, she’s realized she still has a great deal to learn about how narratives form us. Similarly, author, professor, and podcaster Heather Thompson Day has loved Scripture for a long time. And yet, a recent read through Isaiah 30 nudged her to take a closer look at some skewed ideas she had about God’s work in her life.
On a broad scale, evangelical women have been advocating for a renewed Christian conversation about sex in marriage—one that includes an honest discussion of female pleasure, frustrations, and struggles. And abuse survivors and experts are advocating for better ways of thinking about power and protection.
While revisiting the stories that shape us can feel a bit unnerving at first, it’s comforting to remember that the greatest story of all—the gospel of Jesus Christ—never changes. As we take heart in the power of the resurrection and all that it means for our lives, may we find the freedom to take a look at the stories we have been told and tell, asking the Spirit to illuminate the truth and help us to share it.
