I had a writing instructor tell me that a well written story doesn’t need to have “The End” added when the story was over. The reader will know if the writer did their job well. However, I’ve been deep into a story that was engaging and well written where I thought it was the end, but it kept going. It turned out, the story was only halfway done. What I thought was the end, was really the launching point for the other half that I didn’t expect. It reminded me of what a pastor once told me. He said, “Never put a period where God puts a comma.” There are times when we think our story is over, or that God is through with us, but instead of “The End,” there’s a comma for the story to continue.
I noticed something interesting as I read Joshua 1:1. It says, “And after Moses, Yahweh’s servant, died, Yahweh spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ faithful assistant” (TPT). The book of Joshua starts with the word “and” in the original language. That’s an odd way to start a book, but not only Joshua, but Judges and Ruth start with “and” as well. Here Moses had died. The Law was given. They were still in the wilderness after 40 years. God began these books with the word “and” so that the reader would see that God is continuing the story even though it looks like things are over. He’s reminding them that He’s not done writing and that there’s more to come. He doesn’t leave them stranded in the wilderness or leaderless. He commissions Joshua and reminds them that He will never leave them nor forsake them (verse 5).
I believe that same is true for your story. I believe God has an “and” for you too. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (NLT). It is God who is writing your story, and He will be faithful to keep writing it until He says it’s finished. Often what looks like an end is just a beginning of something new that God is creating in your story. When things feel hopeless, and you feel abandoned in the wilderness, look for the “and” that God is writing. We know that He works all things out for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Instead of giving into despair or panicking, ask God to show you His “and.”
Photo by Sharn Kang on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 