Last week I helped edit a friend's novel, and the story kept me in suspense all the way through 300+ pages. But the ending wobbled. He avoided the "everyone-lives-happily-ever" ending, which often seems fake. Yet, I wanted more than what he gave me. As we all do, he's struggling with the finale. Closure in relationships, in stories, and in life often generates angst. Because this is a Christian-based novel, my friend's ending must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading, neither too vanilla nor too dark.
If you're like me, I can start things with lots of enthusiasm and, on a good day, with a ton of creativity. But when the novelty fades and the hours accumulate, I often lose interest. Aren't we glad God's not like that? He never tires of our countless requests, failures, and concerns. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
So how do we end a story? My best advice is to ask God for a strong finish. In fact, expand that to include your life’s story. That’s what I want!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:7, ESV [The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001]
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