Trusting the Author: How to Create a Life You Love

The Rough Draft of Life

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, This isn’t how the story was supposed to go?
Maybe the dreams you once held feel more like crossed-out scribbles in the margins now. Chapters you counted on didn’t unfold the way you imagined. Some pages are stained with disappointment, others filled with words you wish you could erase. You flip through the memories and wonder if your best moments were already written.

But here’s the beautiful, soul-settling truth: our lives may feel like rough drafts, but we serve a God who is both Author and Finisher.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” (Hebrews 12:2, NASB)

He doesn’t abandon broken storylines. He steps in with grace in His pen and redemption in His ink, ready to write something new. Not one word is wasted. Not one tear. Not one detour.

You are not stuck in the same old plot. With God, you can turn the page.
I have a little sign on my desk that reminds me of this daily. It says, “Trust the next chapter because you know the Author.” And friend, I do. Even when I have no clue what’s coming next, I know Who is holding the pen.

What does it look like to trust the Author and create a life you love?

1. Recognize the Narrative You’ve Been Living

Let’s be real—most of us are walking around with a quiet inner narrator that doesn’t always speak truth. Maybe yours says things like:

I missed my chance.
I’m too broken to begin again.
It’s too late for someone like me.

These thoughts sneak into the margins of our days and start shaping how we live. But they’re not from the Author who knows you best.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2, NIV)
A transformation begins when we take a good, honest look at the narrative we’ve been living under—and invite God to rewrite it with His truth. A truth that says you are chosen, redeemed, and never beyond His reach.

2. Partner with the Author

God is not just in the business of fixing a few typos. He’s in the business of redemption—of taking what looked like the end and turning it into a beginning. He doesn’t hand us a red pen to mark up our regrets; He invites us to trust Him with the whole story.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

(Isaiah 43:19, NIV)
Even when all you see is the blank space or the mess behind you, God is already sketching something new into your future. His rewrites are not rushed. They are holy. Personal. Powerful.

So if the page you’re on feels confusing or painful, take heart—He’s still writing.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Edit

Sometimes, we cling tightly to old pages because they feel familiar—even if they no longer fit the story God is telling. But growth often means letting go.
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit… while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2, NIV)
Jesus talks about pruning not as punishment, but preparation. That includes jobs, relationships, dreams, and even versions of ourselves that we’ve outgrown.

It’s okay to release what no longer fits the story God is writing. It takes courage to say, “That chapter served me, but it’s time to move on.” You don’t have to carry everything with you. Lighten your load so there’s room for what’s next.

4. Write with Hope

Hope doesn’t pretend the past didn’t happen. It just believes the past isn’t the whole story.
You are not too late. You are not too far gone. You are not disqualified by the broken parts of your journey. In fact, those are the very places God loves to use most.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV)

If you’re ready to believe again—to dream again—here are a few simple affirmations you can hold onto:

• God is still writing my story.

• My past doesn’t disqualify me from purpose.

• Hope is the ink God uses for new beginnings.

Even if you only believe one of those today, that’s a beautiful start.

Time to Write to the Future You

Here’s your invitation: take a quiet moment and write a “Dear Future Me” letter.
Write it with faith, not fear. Speak to the woman you’re becoming with God’s help. Include scripture. Write down promises He’s whispered to your heart. Pour out your prayers, your hopes, even your holy questions.

“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.” (Habakkuk 2:2, NIV)

And then tuck it away somewhere safe—maybe in your Bible or journal—and revisit it months from now. You might be surprised how many prayers have already started unfolding.

May you embrace the pen in God’s hand, trust the grace on every page, and believe this with your whole heart:
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” (Philippians 1:6, NIV)
The Author isn’t finished yet.