Ask the Author
by Bonnie Peacock

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

It is not the reader, the hero, or the heroine in a book who determines how and when the story ends. Just as the characters do not decide the conclusion of a novel, we do not dictate the outcome of our lives.

Sometimes we like the way our story is unfolding, and at other times we wish we could do some editing. Just the realization that things are out of our control is disconcerting. What is going to happen next?

Regardless of life’s uncertainty, there is a safe place in an unsafe world. It is possible to have an inner calm — to be at peace. Who wants to always rush around, overwhelmed, fearful, guilt-ridden, feeling inadequate, worried, and fretful, when we can be poised, assured, and faith-filled?

God’s Word reassures us that we do not face the turmoil and stress of life alone. Things are not always as they seem. The scenarios our minds can concoct may not always be true. It is easy to become discouraged when we focus on what is happening at any one given moment.

When it appears God is not at work, it only appears that way. There is never a time when God is not managing the universe. If He can keep worlds from colliding, He can take care of the problems we face.

We serve a God who can take us out of a hopeless situation and give us a future. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

When the author picks up the pen, the story is not over until he pens, “The End.” God is the one who says whether our story is finished or if this just a bit of drama or mystery thrown into the plot.

When life seems hopeless, we must take our hopeless situation into the presence of God. It has been said, “Where there is no faith in your future, there is no power in you present.”

God expects His people to trust Him. He asked, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth(Luke 18:8).

Faith is not an option. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

While it seems God asks a lot of us, the Scripture reassures us, “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). He did not give us just a small amount, but He gave us the measure — the amount we need to please Him. In fact, He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. (See II Peter 1:3.)

Although we cannot see how the story will unfold, He has provided us all we need to live victoriously. The first step to victory is changing our focus from inward to upward, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2).

It is during hopeless situations that people quit living for God. This is not the time to throw in the towel. Regardless of your circumstances, this is the day to stand up and declare, “I am going to get through this. I am going to have victory. I am going to take dominion and authority over the problems in my life.”

Hang on! Hold on! It is not over until He says it is over.