Why is story so important?

A few days before the retreat, we discussed in Discord on the importance of fiction and story.
It’s hard when there are those around us, especially those who are family and could be our biggest supporters, who discourage us.
“You’re wasting your time.”
“You should be reading your Bible instead.”
“You should be focusing on your kids.”
“Why are you writing instead of cleaning the house?”
“You barely have any time to yourself, so why would you spend it making up stories people might not read?”
“Does it matter that much?”
Most of those quotes have been said to me, and they have come from family or very good friends who are close to me.
It’s hurtful, and sometimes those words make me wonder if they’re right.
Am I doing the right thing?
Am I spending my time wisely?
Should I be spending more time with my children?
Should I have folded laundry before I started writing?
Why do I feel so guilty?
Am I doing something that honors God?
God, have You really called me to write?
and last but not least,
God, if You have called me to this, why is it so hard?
I came to the realization through one of you Mommy Writers that satan often uses other Christians to hurt other Christians. It’s unfortunate, and sometimes the other person means well, but words can be hurtful, and lack of support while in our craft is doubly so.
We heard from Laura Frantz last Thursday and she told us how her husband wasn’t the most supportive. It makes it more difficult to justify writing time in situations like this, when our loved ones don’t see the impact our words and more importantly, the words God gives us, can have.
Jesus spoke in stories often, and while we may never know the reason, many scholars believe it’s because as humans, we are naturally drawn to the wonder and illustrations of story.
Our brains gravitate toward story. It’s why little ones want us to read to them, pictures or no pictures.
It’s why our minds can escape into the past or fantasy world in whatever book we read.
According to scientists, “storytelling is crucial because it’s a fundamental human activity that fosters connection, understanding, and learning.”
“It allows us to share experiences, build empathy, and preserve culture, making it a powerful tool for communication and personal growth.”
This is one way Jesus speaks to us through story and repeatedly to others in His Word.
For those who don’t know, I’ve started a journey of weaning off of my psychiatric meds. He has made it clear to me in many ways that after 5 years, it’s time.
The last sign God gave me was through a novel I just finished last week by Tessa Afshar. She is one of my favorite authors, so it’s no surprise that I was immersed in the story, and this book has easily made it near the top of my 10 favorite books.
While struggling with my mental health and praying about weaning off my meds, I was reading The Peasant King, and a page stood out to me more than the rest.
A question I’ve often asked myself came in the words of Jemma, the female main character.
“Why won’t God heal me?” she had wailed. “Why does He not take this ugly thing away?”
Her father had thought about his answer. “I understand your longing, my girl.” He fiddled with his eye patch. “I have asked similar questions of God, myself.” He leaned a little closer. “Sometimes His answers is little by little. Like when His people were about to enter the Promised Land, longing to end their wanderings, longing to settle down and be at peace. But Moses told them that God would make a way for them little by little, that He might not provide the desire of their hearts at once. Our aching hearts always long for the at once answers of God. We want the pain gone all at once. We want to have relief, all at once. Instead, God chooses a little by little answer.
“You think God has not healed you. I see it differently. Every year, you take a little step closer to healing. A little more understanding. A little more patience with yourself. A little more trust in God. Little by little, my girl. God’s healing for you is coming in the little by little of grace.”
I read and re-read this passage and cried my eyes out afterward. It was like a healing salve for my heart when I read this, as if God, my own Father, were speaking these words to me.
“Okay, God,” I whispered, as I held the fiction novel in my hand, “I’m obeying You. I hear You and know what You want of me. I’m ready to do it. I’m ready to take that leap of faith and trust that You know what’s best for me.”
And I did. With a schedule my psychiatrist gave me, I’ve been weaning off since the morning after I read that page. Tessa could have never known how her words would touch me and lead me to the decision to obey God and His will for me.
But that is the power of story. God had orchestrated that moment from before Tessa might even have known she would write this book.
With words from her fiction, words others may or may not have encouraged her to write, I wept with gratitude while Jesus touched my heart and encouraged me to Him.
God has shown me I’ve been relying on medication and doctors to heal me and fix my problems, when I should be relying and leaning on Him.
It was a hard realization, but a necessary one. And all of it stemmed from reading Tessa’s words.
That is the power of story. It’s why words are so important, and why when God calls us to write a story He laid on our hearts, we are to obey.
And with all of this, God is teaching me to trust Him. While the journey may be difficult, God is faithful and will bring me through this and I believe He will heal me.
All I have to do is trust Him, have faith, and put one foot in front of the other.
Even if it’s little by little.