Life is God's novel. Let him write it.

"Life is God’s novel. Let Him write it." — With these profound words, Isaac Bashevis Singer reveals a timeless truth about the nature of human existence: we are not the authors of our own stories, but rather participants in a greater narrative that is written by the Divine. This quote encourages us to surrender the pen of our lives to God, trusting in His wisdom and guidance, rather than seeking to control every aspect of our journey. Singer's words speak to the deep humility required to trust that God’s plan is far greater than our own, that His narrative is one of purpose, meaning, and ultimately, redemption.

In the ancient world, the idea that God is the author of life was deeply ingrained in the thinking of philosophers and religious thinkers alike. Plato believed in the Divine Craftsman — a godly figure who shapes the cosmos with intelligence and purpose. To him, the universe was a creation of reason and order, one that aligned with Divine will. The philosopher, then, was not someone who sought to impose their own will upon the world, but someone who recognized the Divine author of existence and sought to live in accordance with that greater plan. Just as Plato spoke of the world being shaped by the divine, Singer suggests that our lives, too, are shaped by God’s hand, and our role is to embrace His authorship with trust and faith.

The Bible speaks repeatedly of God’s sovereignty over all things, including human lives. Jeremiah 29:11 declares, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This is a profound reflection of the idea that God is the author of our lives, and His plan for us is one of goodness, even when we cannot see the full picture. The life of Moses, for instance, is an example of a man whose story was written not by his own hand, but by God’s. From being born into humble beginnings to leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses’ life unfolded according to a divine narrative, one that he could not have anticipated but ultimately led to the fulfillment of a greater purpose.

Consider the life of Nelson Mandela, whose journey was shaped by forces far beyond his own making. Mandela did not choose to be imprisoned for 27 years, nor did he control the path that led to his release and eventual leadership of South Africa. Yet, through it all, he trusted in the larger story that was unfolding, believing that his suffering was part of a divine narrative of justice, freedom, and reconciliation. In the end, Mandela’s story was not one of personal victory alone but one of divine purpose, as he became the symbol of a nation’s rebirth. Like Moses, his life was a novel written by forces larger than himself, and he was an instrument through which God’s will was carried out. Singer’s quote is echoed in Mandela’s life — a reminder that we are characters in a grand story whose author is God.

The lesson in Singer’s words is one of surrender and trust. It is an invitation to step back from the impulse to control and manipulate every aspect of our lives and to allow God to write our story. God’s narrative for our lives is one of purpose and meaning, and though we may not always understand the twists and turns, we must trust that He is guiding us toward a future that is full of hope and fulfillment. By embracing the truth that God is the ultimate author, we are freed from the anxiety of trying to control every detail, knowing that the story He writes is always for our highest good.

In our own lives, we are invited to ask ourselves: Are we trying to write our own story, or are we allowing God to lead? The practical steps we can take are to surrender our plans to Him, to trust that His purpose for us will unfold in ways that we cannot foresee but are ultimately for our good. This doesn’t mean passivity; rather, it means acting with faith, knowing that our actions are part of a greater plan. It means releasing our need for perfection and control, understanding that sometimes the story God is writing for us will include suffering, struggle, and hardship — but it will always lead to growth, healing, and redemption.

Ultimately, Singer's quote reminds us to approach life with the humility and trust of a child in the hands of a loving father. Just as the ancient philosophers and biblical figures trusted in the Divine narrative, so too must we surrender our own limited vision for our lives and trust that God’s wisdom is greater than anything we could write ourselves. In doing so, we open ourselves to a life of joy, purpose, and peace, knowing that the story being written is far greater than anything we could imagine. Let us, then, live as characters in God’s novel, trusting that He will lead us through every page and every chapter, shaping our lives into something beautiful.