Supporting
characters are foundational elements of fiction books. They are developed,
important to the story’s progression, loved by readers and have a specific
function: to reveal the main character’s internal lies through relationship,
point the character to their mission and encourage them on the journey to the
END GOAL.
We
are protagonists of our stories but part of our life mission is to elevate the
divine calling of someone else’s plotline, to act as the tools needed to equip
another character to change the world.
Each
of us desires to be the person God chooses for grand, spotlight-catching,
earth-shaking plans. However, the truth is not all of us will be
world-changers, but we can all be story-supporters. We, the authored, must
infect our self-consumed minds with Supporting Character Syndrome and look at
the big picture, what’s at stake, and then do what we can to achieve the
universal objective.
“In
Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the
purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will . . .”
– Ephesians 1:11
Although
it may seem discouraging that our stories might not be the ones to spark
revivals and massive change, our plotlines are still more intricate than the
constellations. We, as characters in a God-authored saga, have been gifted with
spirits of authority, voices with power from the Holy One. Because of our
existence and fulfilled plotlines, God will change the world. Revivals will
spark. History will scream His praise.
“Now
to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us . . .” – Ephesians 3:20
To
compact the message of SUPPORTED into a few concise sentences: Our stories are
important, but some stories imprint history more than others. Our Author writes
us with intentionality, weaves our lives into an ornate tapestry. By investing
in someone else’s story, we are developing our own.
I
accept the fact I may not be the person God uses to rebuild His kingdom here on
earth. I may never be the one who has the honor of speaking to hundreds or
thousands of people, who writes a book history remembers. The privilege may
never anoint me . . . but it might bestow itself on one of my friends, a girl
in my small group, a classmate or coworker. It is my duty as a child of the
Most High God to be a supporting character for each of His kingdom-builders,
love and encourage them with a relational purpose.
“But
according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in
which righteousness dwells.” – 2 Peter 3:13
David
and Jonathan are a wonderful example of the righteous bond between two
God-authored characters. The loyalty between them, as written in 1 Samuel,
demonstrates the relationship we should have with others—bonds through Christ,
united by sacred blood and culture of connectedness. Both men had extravagant plotlines
written for their lives, but we regard David as the Biblical account’s
protagonist. Jonathan was a good steward of David’s story, he recognized God’s
authorship in his friend’s life and took a step back so David could step into
his ordained fate.
Christ-like leaders follow
in Jonathan’s footsteps. They are good stewards of others’ stories, recognizers
of God’s authorship, and they take humble steps back so others can step
forward, into their ordained fate.
The
role of a side character is one of humility. However, through the position, we
have the unique opportunity to be included in a multitude of stories.
We,
the authored, are supported.
Next week, HEROINES (A Blog
Series) begins! The incredible Stephanie McGraw from WordsUnfolding.com will be
visiting Girl Meets Publishing World
to kick off the series.
