How to Write the End

The end is often just the beginning.

We've learned several things from Revelation 22 when it comes to writing a strong ending to our stories, but here are a few key points that stand out the most to me:

• God has an uncanny way of making our ending even better than our beginning.
• We may have had a beginning full of hope and promise, but because of our own doing or the decisions of others (think of Joseph's story), we found ourselves nearly drowning in the middle of a mess. But God reaches down to grasp the hands of those who love Him, making everything right and new again, something we see in Revelation 22 (and is also echoed in Romans 8:28).

• God allows us to participate in our redemption.
• Jesus says, "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city" in the last chapter of Revelation. This verse reminds us that God has given us autonomy and the ability to choose to live a pure and redeemed life.

• The truth needs no embellishment or amendment.
• At the end of Revelation 22, Jesus warns that those who take away or add to His prophecy will suffer the consequences. In light of our own testimonies, we can be encouraged to share the truth, even when difficult, and know that sharing our stories isn't about making ourselves look better or being in control of the narrative. It's allowing God to work through our lives and giving all glory to Him in the process.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

• The ending is an opportunity to point back to the beginning.

We previously talked about "foreshadowing," where the beginning of your story hints at what's to come. And I think we can flip this concept when it comes to the ending, especially after observing how the last chapter of Revelation points to the garden in Genesis 1. As you write your ending, keep mindful of where you started, gently pointing your reader back to the beginning to remind them of God's redeeming intervention until the very end.

• Be sure to keep your overall purpose in mind.

Remember, this is a story that ultimately should point people to Jesus. The human side of us might see it as an opportunity to get back at or slander those who have hurt us in the past. But I always remember what Jesus says about those who have been forgiven much. They love much, and because God has made us white as snow, let's not use this beautiful gift of writing to bring more evil into the world. Instead, let's look at our past as the way forward to a perfect future with Christ, our Lord.

• Give credit where credit is due.

The ability to write, live, breathe – it's all in the hands of the Father. As we're writing our testimonies, we need to keep this in mind. These stories aren't for our own glory but for His. And even though He graciously gives us a part to play, we're only given that part because He grants it. When we come to Him with grateful hearts, our stories are even more potent because they're not just written by human hands but with the help of His Spirit.

Move on to the next lesson to hear some of my thoughts on writing the end of your story.