What Gives a Character Character
I abandoned my books and chose the easier option. I entered “how to develop character” into the Google search bar and readied myself for instant transformation. Instead, I was underwhelmed by a series of articles on how to create a compelling character for a fictional story.
As I recovered from my initial disappointment, I realized that the development of a fictional character has valuable parallels to how you and I establish our own character. Authors reveal the virtues of their characters by forcing them to respond to a variety of experiences. The same is true of our lives. Our character is shaped and refined as we react to the world around us.
As we follow characters throughout a story, we see them change. A character has to change or else their story isn’t worth following. Which is partly why authors rely upon an obstacle that threatens the very nature of their character. Their character has to face a problem. The problem is what creates the required urgency and tension to keep us interested. The problem is what keeps the story moving. The problem is what instigates the character to change.
A character’s obstacle is crucial to the construction of a story. The author must insert a problem into a character’s life while also ensuring that the character has been developed enough to ably respond. The timing is vital.
While it is easy to see parallels between our lives and those who live in an imaginary world, it becomes more complicated to compare God with the author of a literary novel. For instance, there is no indication in the Bible to suggest that God will only allow us to face what we are able to bear. Instead, we read dozens of stories of God placing people in situations for which they are ill-equipped to handle. Consider the message that Elijah receives from an angel in 1 Kings 19:7—"the journey is too much for you!"—or how Moses feels in Exodus 4:10-13—"please send someone else" (thanks to Ron Edmundson for these examples).
What is worth considering is the impact that obstacles have on the development of our character. In a letter to the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul states that he rejoices in his sufferings (5:3-5). If he provided us with no explanation for his gratitude, we would have good reason to conclude that Paul may have been mad. But Paul’s argument—which is strengthened by his extensive experience—is that suffering produces perseverance which in turn produces character.
Character cannot be easily acquired. Character does not develop quickly. Character is forged as we continually respond to the joys and challenges of life.
Adversity plays a unique role in the development of our character because it forces us to grasp onto our foundation. As we seek to steady ourselves from overbearing circumstances, we search for some thing or someone who is greater than ourselves. The substance of the character we forge during these times is often dependent on what we choose to cling to.
Paul’s perplexing response to suffering is due to his understanding of character. Suffering is an opportunity for character growth. And as we endure adversity, it provides us with the chance to see God do his work in and through us. Which is why the entire process leads to hope and why hope in God’s work will not leave us disappointed.