I don't know if you have noticed this or not, but it seems that there are a lot of movies that are coming out that are now the "back stories" of a movie that has already been produced. The Avengers are doing back stories. The Lord of the Rings just recently premiered a backstory of The Hobbit. There is also a television show about the backstories of country music singers, so that we get a sneak peak into their lives prior to them becoming stars.
What has been so compelling in all of these backstories is the desire they conjure up for us to go and discover revelations about people and circumstances in the original movies that made no sense. Once you understand the backstory, you understand more clearly why the actions and turn of events happened the way they did.
The backstory makes sense of the whys.
My favorite of all of the back stories recently produced is definitely Wicked, the broadway musical. Wicked is the backstory of The Wizard of Oz. So as not to spoil anything for anyone who has not seen it yet (and if you haven't, you MUST!), just know that when I watched Wicked, it changed my whole perspective on the wicked witch.
Jesus was interested in other's back stories. Even though He was omniscient, He still talked with the woman at the well about her past. In John 4, He says to her, "Go, call your husband and come back.”
“I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” ~John 4:16-18
Jesus took her backstory and used it to help her discover who He really was. And when we get to know another's backstory, we can help another see who He is as well.
When it comes to walking through life with others, especially when it comes to discipling, it is very important that we do not discount their backstory. It is what too many disciplers forget to do, and yet is really one of the most important facets of really being able to help other women walk into deeper waters of relationship with God.
Here's what I believe are the benefits of hearing other's backstories:
- You discover what has motivated another's actions, thoughts, and feelings, to better understand why they act the way they do in current situations.
- You better understand the "labels" that have been placed on another, not just accept those labels as truth.
- You are enabled to look at someone's heart, not just the exterior that they show to the world.
Knowing the backstory in discipleship is paramount to helping another walk in closer relationship with God.
When has someone's backstory changed your perspective of them?
Written by Jena Forehand, Author of Living Deeper: Women helping women walk with God. To find out more, click here
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