One of the key elements in storytelling is building strong character arcs. Character arcs are the way a character changes throughout a story, whether for good or bad. They are what keep us turning the pages and reading, making us cheer for the main character, hoping they will achieve their quest and reach their goal. They are also what make us cheer against the villain.

As I’ve learned more about character arcs, I’ve realized that I’m very drawn to them because they reflect the way that we learn and grow as believers and children of God. Character arcs in fiction are, many times, a parallel of our own personal growth and spiritual transformation.

The Basics of a Character Arc

A character arc follows a simple trajectory where a character travels from a fractured belief toward the truth (if it is a positive arc). Arcs consist mainly of four parts:

1. Before
2. Doubts
3. Struggles
4. After

In other words, a positive character arc is a journey from shattered belief, to the discovery of truth, to the embracing of truth. 

Shattered Belief

A character will begin a story with a strong belief. To illustrate, I will use the Ravenwood Saga by Morgan L. Busse (I will try my best not to include any spoilers). The story opens with Selene, the heir to House Ravenwood, one of the seven Great Houses granted gifts to protect the land and its people. For centuries, the other Great Houses have believed that Ravenwood lost its gift during an invasion of the Dominia Empire. But Selene, and all the women before her, know the truth: their gift of dream-walking is still active.

After Selene’s own gift of dream-walking manifests, her mother reveals to her the dark secrets of their household. For centuries, Ravenwood women have used their gift of dream-walking to enter people’s dreams and obtain their secrets and sell them. In some cases, they enter dreams to kill their victims.

Selene is shocked to find the truth, but the strong belief she holds when the story opens becomes her motivation to learn to wield a gift she knows to be evil. Selene believes that this is the only way to protect her people and her family. This is her shattered belief, which drives her in the first part of the saga.

Belief dictates action. And this isn’t just true in fiction. It is the way all humans are wired. What we believe will be the driving force behind our actions, habits, and behaviors (both positive and negative). If we believe God is our provider, we will live a generous life and be wise with our finances. But if we believe that we won’t ever have enough, then we could end up living a Scrooge life—miserly, cold, and unhappy.

Belief is important. This is why Paul shared the key for us to experience our own character growth and be transformed:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

Paul knew that the way to experience God’s perfect will for our lives was to start with the root issue: our beliefs. When we take our beliefs and align them with God’s will and Word, we will experience true growth and transformation.

Journey to the Truth

Which leads us to the second half of a character arc: truth. A character has to reach a point where they question their original belief. This part of a story is usually the messiest. Why? Because growth isn’t always linear. In fact, it can look like a roller coaster. A character will begin to question a belief, but that doesn’t mean that they will experience truth all at once.

Selene questions her actions from the beginning. After all, she knows that the way her family uses their gift can’t be right. But it isn’t until she experiences hardships and an exposure to the Light (the story’s representation of God) that she begins to question her actual belief. What if there is another way to protect her family and care for her people? What if her gift were meant for something more?

Selene has these questions, but she doesn’t change overnight. When she is sent to kill the one person who carries within himself the brightest light Selene has ever seen, she reaches a turning point: either continue with her previous actions or take a risk and disobey her mother’s orders. She hasn’t reached a point where she sees the truth yet, but the change has begun. Needless to say, she doesn’t go through with it and instead saves this person’s life, leading her to run away from home, her mother, and her dark secrets.

Many times, this is what transformation looks like. As Christians, we can believe that change should always be instantaneous. But usually, this isn’t the case. Change is gradual, and with God it usually begins from the inside out. While Satan deforms people from the outside in (body, soul, then spirit), God transforms from the inside out (spirit, soul, then body). This change is a process and a constant choice.

Selene leaves her old life behind and embarks on a journey to discover the origins of her dream-walking gift and its true purpose. She takes steps toward the truth, but she still struggles with the darkness of her past. She wants to embrace the Light, but she doubts someone with her past can be welcomed into it. Her journey has its ups and downs, and it isn’t until much loss and personal struggle that she finally encounters the Light and realizes that her gift was given to her family to bring courage, peace, and hope to people and to point them to the Light.

The Constant Embracing of Truth

Selene discovers her true purpose, but she still struggles with making the daily choice of following a new path rather than the path set by her ancestors. This is one thing I loved about this book. Selene’s choice to follow the Light was a constant, daily choice. She doesn’t learn how to use her gift instantly; rather, it is by getting to know the Light more that she discovers how her gift was always meant to be used.

This is much like how following God and His truth should be a constant and daily choice for us. Following God, the truth, and true transformation isn’t a one-and-done deal. It is a continuous yes and daily obedience to God.

At the end of the day, it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32). How do we experience real growth in our lives? How are we transformed? How do we reach the version of ourselves that God destined for us? We discover and embrace the truth.

In order to discover the truth, we first need to identify the lies we believe. How do we know something is a lie? We bring it to the Person of truth! Selene didn’t discover what her gift was meant for until the Light showed her the truth and she realized she was meant to enter people’s dreams in order to protect them, inspire them, and show them the Light. Today, we can ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any shattered beliefs we hold and then ask Him to show us His truth.

Will this be an instantaneous transformation? Maybe. After all, God can do the impossible! But more likely than not, it will be a process and a constant choice to renew our minds and take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

But what if we’re not strong enough? Don’t worry. We don’t have to be. Christ’s strength will hold us up when we can’t keep going (much like Selene’s final confrontation with her mother and the dark forces her family previously served).

In every book, characters grow and change (usually for the better, although sometimes for the worse). Just as each character in fiction has a choice, so do we. We can choose to embrace the truth, or we can choose to believe the lies. The good news is that through Christ, the truth is accessible and obtainable. None of us are too far gone. Selene thought she was, but at the end of the day she realized that the only thing keeping her from the Light was herself.

Don’t give up. Reach for the Light! If you feel like you are incapable of growth or transformation, remember that everyone has a choice to embrace the truth. We are all on our own “character arc” journey, and with God’s help we will see a beautiful resolution.

Thanks for reading,
Anna

---

Photo by Zosia Szopka on Unsplash