Think of your story as a conversation with your listener, not as a sermon or a lecture. It should be dynamic, inviting, and engaging. It should inspire them to respond in some way. Below are some questions to consider as you begin to shape your story.
The Way Back
- What gave you hope that this problem/crisis could be solved? Were there any breakthrough moments on the way back?
- How did the spiritual part of life, your relationship with God, fit into the change?
- Share some of the changes that Christ has made in your life as individuals as well as in your
- marriage. Changes could include character, attitude or perspective, and not simply changes in
- behaviour. Be realistic — life is never perfect. But what is different about your relationship now
- because of your relationship with God?
- How has working through this impacted your relationship?
- What have you realized about yourself? Your partner? Your relationship? God?
- What is your perspective on the future now?
Identify Your Theme
Looking back at the notes you took while diving into the discovery questions, was there a common theme running through your experience as a couple? Once you identify the theme, it will provide the main focus for writing your story. Here are some common relationship themes:
- Drift
- Busyness
- No Boundaries
- Broken Trust
- Pornography
- Emotional Affair
- Affair
- Financial Dishonesty
- Differences
- Disappointment
- Commitment
- Determination
- Loss of Hope
- Abandonment
- Faith — begun, lost, renewed
- Forgiveness and new beginnings
If there are a few themes threaded through the history or your relationship, make sure to decide on the main theme, and make sure the one you chose will be relatable to other couples. Next, go back through your notes again and circle comments or stories that relate directly to your chosen theme. The details you circle will become the building blocks of your written story.
Up Next – Write Your Story