Stories, both fictional and true, can have an impact beyond the facts. Stories can engage not only the mind but the heart and emotions, as well.
Jesus used parables and stories to teach people. The Bible is filled with stories.
Stories can give us hope and make us laugh. Encourage us and make us brave or show us when we’re wrong. They can convict us or comfort us. Stories can inspire change and action in ways a lecture or an advice book might never be able to.
God uses stories in the Bible to reach our hearts.
Christian, YA author Tim Shoemaker points out that “God could have given us a short paragraph about how it is important to sacrifice ourselves for others and to take a risk even if we’re afraid of the consequences. Instead, He gave us the beautiful story of Esther.”
God gave us the Ten Commandments. Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery, etc. But that didn’t strike at David’s heart and penetrate the barrier erected by sin. David knew the facts, but he was able to go on with his life until God sent Nathan the prophet with a story that sliced him open and transformed his heart (Shoemaker).
Stories can take us out of our own little world and into someone else’s. David could empathize with the poor man who only had one little, treasured lamb and had it stolen by his wealthy neighbor. We can imagine what it must have been like for Esther to walk into the throne room of Xerxes, king of the Persian Empire, a man she hadn’t spoken to for over thirty days and ruler of the most powerful empire in the world, knowing that she could be put to death if he didn’t extend his scepter.
Or we can understand Hosea’s pain when his unfaithful wife Gomer returned to prostitution, an illustration of God’s pain when the Children of Israel turned from Him. Francine Rivers opened the story up even further when she fictionalized the account of Hosea and adapted it to the American West in the 19th century, in her novel Redeeming Love. The novel turned movie has carried the message of forgiveness, second chances, and unconditional love to millions.
God is still using stories to reach people. He can use our stories, both true and fictional.
If God has called you to write, don’t discount the gift He has given you or any gift He has given you. And if you love to read fiction, ignore the naysayers, jump into the characters’ hearts and minds, and learn from them.
.What stories, outside of the Bible, have inspired you?
Pulpiteers who inspired me told stories that made the Bible live.
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The Hiding Place and Little Women have had a huge impact on my life. To me, God’s love and family love come through loud and clear in these stories. The Hiding Place showed me that we can do all things/thrive in unimaginable situations, through God’s great love/power of the Holy Spirit. Both books show that the journey sometimes comes at great cost. And that doesn’t mean God isn’t there!!
Thank you for this post, Sherry!! 🙂
Thank you for sharing, Erma. That makes me want to read The Hiding Place. I read Little Women years ago and loved it. Quo Vadis is another book that shows God’s great love and power.
There are countless fiction stories that have impacted me and reminded me of the lessons we learn from the Bible. I especially enjoy 19th century historical fiction and good Biblical fiction.
I love 19th-century British novels, especially ones by Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, and Elizabeth Gaskell. But love 19th-century historical fiction, as well.
To Kill a Mocking Bird has remained my favorite for so many years. Family. Loving others who are different. Grace needed and given to us who are weak.