Combating the Unreliable Narrator Within - Encouragement for Today - October 7, 2025

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October 7, 2025

Combating the Unreliable Narrator Within
STACY J. LOWE

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“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

I’m a words girl. Always have been, always will be. Whether it’s reading or writing, stories have always been a part of my DNA. In recent years, I’ve found myself drawn to plotlines full of twists and turns I could never predict, an effect sometimes created through an unreliable narrator.

An unreliable narrator is a storyteller who is not completely trustworthy, either intentionally (because they’re lying) or unintentionally (because they don’t know what is true). While this makes for a creative literary device, it can be treacherous when applied to real life.

Here’s what I mean …

From the time we’re born, the world begins applying labels to us. Some are lovingly given — others not so much. And while true and well-intentioned words often tiptoe in with a gentle whisper, lies and mean-spirited labels seem to march in with trumpet fanfare and make themselves at home. If we’re not careful, we become the unreliable narrator of our own story, not knowing what is true. We may live from the faulty core belief that we are, in fact, ugly. Incompetent. Unworthy of love. (Insert your chosen lie here.)

With each lie we believe, we shrink down in our soul just a little bit more, certain God Himself must view us in the same way.

But let’s consider these words from God's prophet Zephaniah: “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

When I read this verse, I don’t see a God who looks on us with disgust. Instead, I see One who unashamedly loves His children despite our flaws. One who delights in us so deeply He can’t help but burst into song.

That God is our Creator, the Author of who we are. And as our Author, despite any lies we may believe about ourselves, only He gets to determine what’s true.

Throughout the pages of Scripture, He says we are:

• Created in His image (Genesis 1:27).
• Chosen (Ephesians 1:4).
• Wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
• Accepted (Romans 15:7).
• Loved (John 3:16).
• Worth dying for (Romans 5:8).

If He says all these things, among many others, about us, who are we to say otherwise?

Today, let’s stop the unreliable narration. Let’s hold our heads high and listen to the only voice that matters: the voice of God, our Author.

Father, in the sea of voices surrounding us, help us to focus on Your voice and the words You speak over us. Help us to live from the truth of who You say we are, created and loved by You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (NLT).

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT).

Take some time today to examine your heart for any faulty beliefs that go against who God says you are, and then bring those to Him in prayer.

What is a lie you’ve believed about yourself? What truth does Scripture instead reveal? We’d love for you to share about it in the comments.

© 2025 by Stacy J. Lowe. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org