What does it mean to hand over the pen and allow someone else to write your story? I hope you are wondering what I mean. As I sat in church one Sunday morning, the speaker referred to Hebrews 12:2 as he talked about the use of our eyes and what we are focusing on. The verse in Hebrews states, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” As the speaker honed in on the first part of the verse, the Word of God came alive to me in a fresh new way just as the Bible states in Hebrews 4:12, “the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” What impressed me was that we are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Jesus wants to write our story! And the only way He will do it is if we hand over the pen. I don’t know about you, but I have the tendency to hand over the pen only to snatch it back again when things get a little hairy so that I can be in control of what is written in my life.
I regularly have opportunities to put this new revelation into practice and I have been learning to hand over the pen as I am confronted by situations and circumstances that challenge my faith. As I have been faced with difficulties and uncertainties, I have had, and continue to have, the opportunity to say, “Jesus, I hand over the pen. I choose You to be the one who writes my story. You are the author and perfecter of my faith. My times are in Your hands.” As an act of surrender, I’ve actually lifted my arm and hand up toward Heaven and opened my hand as if to hand the “pen” over to Jesus. There are times, when I have to do this frequently throughout the day because I keep being tempted to worry and be anxious about what is happening in my life. I am frequently reminded of another passage of Scripture that is found in Philippians 4:6-7 which states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
If you also are struggling to have peace in your life. If you are bombarded by life’s circumstances and subsequent uncertainties, I encourage you to join me and “hand over the pen” to Jesus and allow Him to write the story of your life and to perfect your faith. As you do, in accordance with God’s Word, you will experience God’s peace as He enables you to walk on the heights and live above your circumstances. Your circumstances may not change right away, or might not ever change, but your perspective will be renewed as you learn to let go and trust God fully.