The Beauty in the Break: When Your Story Reflects His Glory

What comes to mind when you hear the word story?

A while back, I sat down to do some research on the concept of story. Out of curiosity, I googled the word. In less than a second, the results flooded in—over 13 billion of them. Story, it seems, is everywhere. It’s a buzzword, a brand strategy, a conference theme, a restaurant name, a magazine title. You can find "Story" as a book, a nightclub, a band, and even a Disney app for preserving family memories.

In our culture, story sells. It connects. Story advertising, for example, is designed to make people care about a brand because it taps into the emotional power of narrative.

But as a word girl, I wasn’t satisfied with just pop culture's definition. So, I dug into the origin of the word story, which finds its roots in the Latin word historia. From its earliest uses, story referred to a connected account of true events, i.e, history. Over time, however, it evolved to mean anything from a fictitious tale to, at worst, a euphemism for a lie. Funny how words shift.

Take my name, for instance. I was born in 1958, and my mother named me Lois Gayonne—the first name being that of my paternal grandmother and middle name being the combination of  two of her sisters’ names, Gayle and Evonne. Like many southern women, I grew up going by the second half of my middle name. So yes, I’ve been called Gay my whole life. As a young girl, I loved my name—it meant happy, joyful, and I was.

But somewhere along the way, culture shifted that word too. These days, I can’t just say, “Hi, I’m Gay,” without some interesting reactions. And we don’t even have time to talk about the responses I get when I give my name at a drive-thru window. Words don’t always hold their original meaning, do they?

Unfortunately, I think this kind of cultural shift has affected the way we view the Bible too. Somewhere, story became synonymous with fable or myth, and we lost sight of the truth that this Book—God’s Word—isn’t just a collection of stories. It is God’s Story. Singular. Unified. A connected narration of true events where God is both the Author and the Hero.

The Meta-Narrative: God's Story

The Bible tells one big story—a metanarrative—an overarching account of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. All the smaller stories point to this greater truth. This Book is not just ancient literature. It’s a living roadmap. It leads us to peace, joy, purpose, and abundant life. It reveals who God is and how He interacts with His creation—including you and me.

This divine metanarrative isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a lifeline. It shapes how we understand our purpose, our pain, and our identity. It reminds us that our personal stories only find their full meaning when they are anchored in His story.

Why Tell Your Story?

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony.”  Revelation 12:11a

When we tell our stories, we put His faithfulness on display. Our testimony is one way we overcome the enemy (Revelation 12:11). 

Telling your story helps others know:

• You are not alone. “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” (C.S. Lewis) When we share our story, we foster connection, and connection combats isolation.

• There is hope. Seeing someone walk through the fire and come out praising reminds us that we can too.Hope is the dream of a soul awake. (French Proverb)

• There can be purpose in pain. The enemy wants your trials to define and destroy you. But God? He redeems them.“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (CSB)

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Telling your story creates connection. It can heal your heart as you pause long enough to trace God’s fingerprints through your pain. And it reminds others that God’s redemptive work is still unfolding.

No, you don’t have to write a book or share your entire life online. But you do need to be ready when God opens the door to share a part of your story.

Kintsugi: Redemption Through the Breaks

One of my favorite illustrations of redemption is the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi.

In the 15th century, craftsmen in Japan developed a way to repair broken ceramic pieces using lacquer mixed with fine gold powder. Instead of hiding the break, the gold-filled cracks became the most beautiful and valuable part of the piece. The break wasn’t a flaw to disguise—it became the standout feature. The worth of the item increased because of the craftsmanship and the cost of repair.

Isn’t that a stunning picture of what God does in us?

The art of kintsugi beautifully illustrates our Master taking our broken pieces and putting us back together again. In the process, He uses the 'mortar' of the blood of His Son, Jesus, and the refining fire of the Holy Spirit to bring the pieces back together; creating within us a stronger spirit with more beauty than we ever possessed when we were whole. 

He doesn’t discard our brokenness. He uses it. The very thing the enemy meant to destroy us becomes the very place God pours His redeeming power. Our cracks become golden seams of grace. Our worth increases—not because of who we are, but because of whose we are, and the high price that was paid to make us whole again.

"You were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold...but by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a flawless, spotless lamb." 1 Peter 1:18-19 (CEB)

What is the break in your life?

That moment, that pain, that failure, that diagnosis, that loss—it’s not disqualifying. In God’s hands, it becomes the very place where His glory shines brightest. You’re not “used goods.” You are chosen, redeemed, and beautifully restored.

The Master Artist

We live in a broken world. Sin fractured the perfection we were made for. But our God is the Master Artist. He gathers the shattered pieces of our lives and begins the redemptive work of putting them back together—one piece at a time, sealed with the blood of Jesus.

He may not ask you to tell every detail of your story. But He will use the parts that shine a spotlight on His story—how He carried you through the valley, how He redeemed what was lost, how He is still faithful.

You are part of God’s bigger story.

So pick up the pieces. Hand them to Him. Let Him make something breathtaking out of the broken.

And when the time comes, tell your story—because when your story reflects His truth, even the broken chapters declare His glory.So trust the Author… and tell your story.

Blessings,