“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” — Genesis 50:20
Lesson
What You Will Learn
- Write a redemption arc honestly, without forcing a tidy ending
- Describe forgiveness as a process in writing
- Write about the past with grace, without glamorizing it
- Draft a fitting ending for your memoir
Lesson Notes
Redemption Is Not a Bow on Top
Readers can tell when an ending has been tied up too neatly: and then I found God and everything was perfect. Real redemption is deeper and often slower. Scripture is honest about this. Psalm 13 begins, How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? and ends, I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. The psalmist did not skip the struggle.
Habakkuk wrote that even if the fig tree shall not blossom... Yet I will rejoice in the LORD (Habakkuk 3:17–18). Faith can be the ending even when circumstances are not fixed.
Writing About Forgiveness
Forgiveness in writing can go in several directions: forgiveness you received from God, forgiveness you gave or are still working toward, and forgiveness you hope for from others.
Write it honestly. Forgiving someone does not mean excusing what happened, and it does not require contact or reconciliation. You may write I am still learning to forgive, and that is true and powerful. Joseph's words in Genesis 50:20 came after years of pain, not the morning after.
Grace, Not Glamorizing
When writing about the past, avoid making wrongdoing sound exciting, funny, or clever, and do not make the people who were hurt invisible. Paul asked, Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid (Romans 6:1–2).
Take honest responsibility for your part without drowning in shame. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). A good testimony holds both: real responsibility and real grace.
Writing the Ending
Strong endings often take one of these forms:
- Image ending: close on a picture that holds the meaning (a door opening, hands folded, morning light).
- Reflection ending: a few sentences on what you understand now.
- Forward ending: an honest look ahead, including what is still unfinished.
You can end in the middle of your growth. He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it (Philippians 1:6).
Key Terms
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Redemption arc | The movement of a story from brokenness toward restoration |
| Tidy ending | An ending that resolves everything too quickly to feel true |
| Glamorizing | Making harmful behavior sound exciting or attractive |
| Open ending | An honest ending that admits the story is still unfolding |
In-Class Activities
Three Endings
Draft three short endings for your memoir: an image ending, a reflection ending, and a forward ending (three to five sentences each). Put a star by the one that feels most true.
Glamor Check
Read this model paragraph (written for this course): Those were the wildest nights of my life. We ran the streets like we owned them, and nobody could touch us. I had money, friends, and fun. Rewrite it so it is honest about that season without making it attractive, and so it shows what it cost.
Assignment: Complete First Draft
Assemble a complete first draft of your memoir (2,500–4,000 words, or the handwritten equivalent):
- A clear before, turning point, and after.
- At least three developed scenes.
- Your revised scenes from earlier modules, woven in.
- An honest ending (image, reflection, or forward).
- A completed ethics check (names and details changed).
Bring it to class in Module 8 for final polishing.
Graded with the Module Assignment Rubric.
Reflection Journal
Genesis 50:20 says, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good. Where have you seen God bring good from something painful? Where are you still waiting to see it?
Prayer focus: Ask God for honest words about forgiveness and redemption, and for patience with the parts of your story that are still being written.
Weekly Reading & Devotions
Not a Bow on Top
Readers can tell when an ending has been tied up too neatly: and then I found God and everything was perfect. Scripture is more honest than that. Psalm 13 begins, How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? and ends, I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. The psalmist did not skip the struggle to reach the song.
Forgiveness in writing can go in several directions: forgiveness you received from God, forgiveness you gave or are still working toward, and forgiveness you hope for from others. Forgiving does not mean excusing what happened, and it does not require contact. I am still learning to forgive is a true and powerful sentence.
Write the past with grace, not glamor. Avoid making wrongdoing sound exciting, funny, or clever, and do not make the people who were hurt invisible. At the same time, you do not need to drown in shame. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). A good testimony holds both real responsibility and real grace.
Your ending can be an image, a reflection, or an honest look forward. Renee ended her memoir on the morning she first opened her Bible to a page she had underlined years before. (Renee is a composite example.) She did not claim everything was fixed. She trusted that he which hath begun a good work would finish it (Philippians 1:6).
Think About It
- Which kind of forgiveness is part of your story? ______________________
- Where are you tempted to glamorize the past, or to drown in shame? ______________________
- Which ending form feels most true for your story right now? ______________________
Daily Devotions for Week 7
God Meant It Unto Good
ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good— Genesis 50:20 (KJV)
Joseph spoke these words after years of pain, not the morning after. Redemption often takes time to see.
Reflect: Where are you beginning to see God bring good from hard things?
Pray: Lord, work Your good in my story, in Your time.
Do: Write one sentence about something God is redeeming.
No Condemnation
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus— Romans 8:1 (KJV)
Responsibility and shame are not the same. In Christ, you can own your past without being condemned by it.
Reflect: Where do you need to hear no condemnation today?
Pray: Lord, thank You that I am not condemned in Christ.
Do: Read your before section and remove one shame-heavy phrase.
He Hath Dealt Bountifully
I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.— Psalm 13:6 (KJV)
This song came at the end of a psalm that began in struggle. Honest endings honor the whole journey.
Reflect: How has God dealt bountifully with you?
Pray: Lord, I will sing because You have been good to me.
Do: Draft an ending that admits the struggle and names God's goodness.
Forgiving One Another
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.— Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
We forgive because we have been forgiven. It may be a process, and that is honest too.
Reflect: Is there someone you are still learning to forgive?
Pray: Lord, make me tenderhearted, as You have been toward me.
Do: Write privately about one step toward forgiveness, if you are ready.
A Good Work Begun
he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ— Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Your story is not finished, and neither is God. You can end in the middle of your growth with confidence.
Reflect: What good work has God begun in you?
Pray: Lord, finish the good work You started in me.
Do: Write a forward ending of three to five sentences.
Module Quiz
- 1.
What is the problem with a forced tidy ending?
- 2.
Which statement about forgiveness fits this module?
- 3.
Glamorizing the past means:
- 4.
A memoir can honestly end while the writer is still growing.
- 5.
Name and describe two types of endings taught in this module.