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The Story of With: A Better Way to Live, Love, & Create
We go through the day without much much hope, without dreams being realized, without deep friendships, and without experiencing the active presence of God. We’re told to run faster, do more, chase success. But we know deep down that isn’t the answer.
There is a better way to live, love, and create.
You don’t need to downsize your dreams. You don’t need more lessons. You need an awakened heart. And that starts by realizing the very things you’re most passionate about are actually your invitation into a life of deeper identity, intimacy, and imagination with God. As you discover who you were created to be, you’ll join a growing bohemian fellowship pursuing their heart and art in new ways.
The Story of With is your roadmap for understanding your story (it’s far more mythic than you might think) and dreaming bigger dreams. It’s a fantastical allegory fused with practical application that offers fresh perspective, restored hope, and a rebirth of creativity. It’s a journey into greater freedom, bigger dreams, and truer success.
There is a better way to live, love, and create.
You don’t need to downsize your dreams. You don’t need more lessons. You need an awakened heart. And that starts by realizing the very things you’re most passionate about are actually your invitation into a life of deeper identity, intimacy, and imagination with God. As you discover who you were created to be, you’ll join a growing bohemian fellowship pursuing their heart and art in new ways.
The Story of With is your roadmap for understanding your story (it’s far more mythic than you might think) and dreaming bigger dreams. It’s a fantastical allegory fused with practical application that offers fresh perspective, restored hope, and a rebirth of creativity. It’s a journey into greater freedom, bigger dreams, and truer success.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
69 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
July 26, 2018
A brilliant blend of story-telling and application. So much shalom in this.
September 16, 2020
I'm pretty sure this book just changed my life.
Every creative being should read this. It swept me away with just...all of it. I'm having a hard time putting it into words.
The allegory this book showed was so powerful and deep. I discovered things about myself and God that I didn't fully realize. I'm making changes in my life as a creative daughter of the King. I want to live my life WITH God, instead of stumbling on without Him.
This book goes deep into these four things...
STAY EXPECTANT.
AWAKEN YOUR HEART.
KNOW YOUR IDENTITY.
DO IT TOGETHER.
Don't go on trying to do life with your own strength. Partner with God on this crazy journey called life, and become His wild, creative bohemian.
Every creative being should read this. It swept me away with just...all of it. I'm having a hard time putting it into words.
The allegory this book showed was so powerful and deep. I discovered things about myself and God that I didn't fully realize. I'm making changes in my life as a creative daughter of the King. I want to live my life WITH God, instead of stumbling on without Him.
This book goes deep into these four things...
STAY EXPECTANT.
AWAKEN YOUR HEART.
KNOW YOUR IDENTITY.
DO IT TOGETHER.
Don't go on trying to do life with your own strength. Partner with God on this crazy journey called life, and become His wild, creative bohemian.
November 17, 2022
This book has completely changed my life.
There's not much more to say besides that. It's completely altered the way I view success, goals, and the future. It's changed the way I live already and I am so so thankful it was recommended to me. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, read this book. I promise it is 100% worth it.
I was honestly a little curious about how the author planned to mix this story, but I can tell you that it was beautifully done. This story bleeds raw truth. It challenges, it pokes, it prods, and it wraps you up in an encouraging hug at the end.
There's not much more to say besides that. It's completely altered the way I view success, goals, and the future. It's changed the way I live already and I am so so thankful it was recommended to me. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, read this book. I promise it is 100% worth it.
I was honestly a little curious about how the author planned to mix this story, but I can tell you that it was beautifully done. This story bleeds raw truth. It challenges, it pokes, it prods, and it wraps you up in an encouraging hug at the end.
September 13, 2018
Life-changing book. I listened to the author in person at Realm Makers 2018 and walked away incredibly refreshed, with my heart awakened to a new perspective.
This book, an allegory or extended metaphor paired with nonfiction snippets, served to cement that perspective in place and remind me of what I learned in the light. I’ll be rereading it in the future!
(The only downside was some typos/formatting issues.)
This book, an allegory or extended metaphor paired with nonfiction snippets, served to cement that perspective in place and remind me of what I learned in the light. I’ll be rereading it in the future!
(The only downside was some typos/formatting issues.)
December 31, 2018
I honestly have no idea how to review a book like that.
Um.
It was good.
Go read it.
Um.
It was good.
Go read it.
April 26, 2021
I purchased this book after getting to meet and speak with the author, Allen Arnold, last year. The way he approached creativity, and working with God to create good art, really resonated with me, and I wanted to read his book. Personally, it fell a little flat for me. I think I would have preferred either a complete fictional story (as in, the parts with Mia), or a complete instructional book with Arnold explaining his points. Mixing both felt jarring to me, and I had a hard time concentrating or getting engrossed in the story. That being said, he has some very good points, and I truly have found his encouragement to create WITH God freeing and inspiring. I'd say it's definitely a book worth reading, especially if you struggle with feeling like your art has any meaning, but be aware that it may not be quite what you're expecting.
May 28, 2022
The Story of With changed the way I think about the world and my relationship with God in it. I recently just reread the book. In three days. The truth it holds is just as powerful now as when I first read it two years ago.
July 28, 2018
Totally changed my perspective on the life of a Christian writer. Would highly recommend to anyone pursuing a dream and feeling overwhelmed.
November 14, 2016
This was definitely a very different book from what I expected, which wasn't a bad thing. Instead of a non-fiction book, it was more of an allegory like Pilgrim's Progress, only modern-day. I appreciated the new take on how to view my writing career and how to use my talents for God. Very unique.
April 26, 2018
My favorite point in this book is when he lays out the difference between expectations and being expectant.
May 6, 2020
This was very different than what I was expecting, but I really liked the message. :)
October 14, 2016
This should be mandatory reading for everyone who attends a Christian college. Using allegory Arnold demonstrates how the God of universe desires intimacy with us in all that we do. This isn't just a book for creative types but everyone as Arnold reveals the Lord's heart for walking with us in all that we do.
The allegory is easy to read and Arnold provides some explanation at the end of each chapter that adds clarity. It all comes together beautifully at the end when Arnold outlines the 4 Vials that Mia in the allegory collected: Be Expectant, Awakened Heart, Know Your Identity and Do it Together. Walking through each day conscious of these 4 elements has really opened my eyes to approaching life from a completely new and fresh perspective. Yes, I'm not in charge, God is which is wonderfully freeing.
"Stay with God" (Psalm 27:14a) - Yes, indeed. Pursuing Him and running with Him on His adventure is really the most exciting life to live. This excellent book provides a guide map to how to catch Jesus' slipstream and join Him on His quest.
I can't recommend this enough. Just buy it. You'll want to read it again and again.
The allegory is easy to read and Arnold provides some explanation at the end of each chapter that adds clarity. It all comes together beautifully at the end when Arnold outlines the 4 Vials that Mia in the allegory collected: Be Expectant, Awakened Heart, Know Your Identity and Do it Together. Walking through each day conscious of these 4 elements has really opened my eyes to approaching life from a completely new and fresh perspective. Yes, I'm not in charge, God is which is wonderfully freeing.
"Stay with God" (Psalm 27:14a) - Yes, indeed. Pursuing Him and running with Him on His adventure is really the most exciting life to live. This excellent book provides a guide map to how to catch Jesus' slipstream and join Him on His quest.
I can't recommend this enough. Just buy it. You'll want to read it again and again.
February 6, 2017
Reading this analogy reaffirmed exactly what God has been teaching me. After reading AW Tozer's The Pursuit of God and JI Packer's Knowing God, this book took me into the personal experience of being "With Him". I loved the story but also the breaks in between the chapters to help me take stock of what was happening.
Knowing that I can't create apart from Him it fuelled my resolve to make sure I spend time each day with God reading His Word, praying and listening. The energy God gives me, the joy and the peace makes me love to live in the "story of with".
A great read. This book will stay on my shelf to remind me to remain in God's presence at all times.
Knowing that I can't create apart from Him it fuelled my resolve to make sure I spend time each day with God reading His Word, praying and listening. The energy God gives me, the joy and the peace makes me love to live in the "story of with".
A great read. This book will stay on my shelf to remind me to remain in God's presence at all times.
October 20, 2017
I like creating. Specifically I like creating stories with words, and pictures with colors. I create on the computer. And I wish I could sell what I’ve created. But why?
I believe with Allen Arnold, author of The Story Of With, that creativity is a God-given gift, and that God wants me to create. I agree with the author that my best creativity is achieved when I work “with” God. And I agree that God’s purpose was not to make me successful, but to draw me closer to Him. But I would so love to be successful.
The Story Of With includes an allegorical tale, much in the style of C.S. Lewis, of a young woman whose creativity hits an all-time low after the loss of her job. A hero’s journey follows where the protagonist, lost on a lonely road, gets to choose if she’ll take a chance on a side trek or follow the uninspiring certainties of a garage with gas to a slow trek back to her car with nothing changed. The side road leads to mystery and revelation - most delightfully to the idea that a broken bottle, as drawn on the cover of the book, can be more beautiful than the original if mended with gold.
So what have I learned? To stay expectant, but not let the world so define what I’m expecting that I can’t see what I’m offered. To know the joy of creating in God’s company, and see myself as a child of God. And to delight in the doing, not the producing. (But I still wish I could sell!)
I enjoyed the book. The allegory had me wondering at several points which direction it would take. And the lessons are wise.
Disclosure: A friend loaned me this book.
I believe with Allen Arnold, author of The Story Of With, that creativity is a God-given gift, and that God wants me to create. I agree with the author that my best creativity is achieved when I work “with” God. And I agree that God’s purpose was not to make me successful, but to draw me closer to Him. But I would so love to be successful.
The Story Of With includes an allegorical tale, much in the style of C.S. Lewis, of a young woman whose creativity hits an all-time low after the loss of her job. A hero’s journey follows where the protagonist, lost on a lonely road, gets to choose if she’ll take a chance on a side trek or follow the uninspiring certainties of a garage with gas to a slow trek back to her car with nothing changed. The side road leads to mystery and revelation - most delightfully to the idea that a broken bottle, as drawn on the cover of the book, can be more beautiful than the original if mended with gold.
So what have I learned? To stay expectant, but not let the world so define what I’m expecting that I can’t see what I’m offered. To know the joy of creating in God’s company, and see myself as a child of God. And to delight in the doing, not the producing. (But I still wish I could sell!)
I enjoyed the book. The allegory had me wondering at several points which direction it would take. And the lessons are wise.
Disclosure: A friend loaned me this book.
July 8, 2024
"You don't need more answers before you begin. You just need to be ready to ride."
There is a weekend retreat within the pages of this book... Sure, you may be sitting in a recliner or a rocking chair while your eyes scan the words on the pages of this book, but rest assured that you are getting away... you are going somewhere for a few days, and you are going to feel refreshed and ready for tomorrow by the time you reach the last page of this Story.
This is a modern-day allegory in the style of John Bunyan's classic "Pilgrim's Progress," and I wouldn't hesitate to say that it's even better! Allen Arnold has alternated each step of protagonist Mia's journey to find her father who mysteriously disappeared two decades earlier, with an opportunity for personal reflection at the end of each chapter for the holder of this book. The result is an intimate invitation to discover the Truth about the good parts and the bad parts of your own journey.
I. Love. This. Book...
because it's real. It's not a lecture. It's not boring. There is an intriguing story here that draws the reader in because it is relevant and relatable. Mia's struggles are my struggles. They are your struggles. Her questions about her setbacks are the same questions you would have asked. She's looking for the same answers that I'm looking for. In that vein, Allen Arnold got my attention early with this thought: "What if we allow the unexpected and unwanted interruptions to remind us that we never were in control in the first place? What if the disruptions we try so hard to avoid are actually opportunities in disguise? After all, the best part of a movie occurs when the hero's back is against the wall and all hope seems lost."
If you're like me, when things don't go the way I planned for them to go... or the way I wished that they would turn out... I have a tendency to lose heart. Quickly. And at that point, I'm not interested in the hero-in-a-movie analogy any longer. I don't care if I live happily ever after or if I eventually save the day, because I just want to survive. Sometimes when I'm going through a trial, my faith-o-meter takes a nose-dive as I foolishly forget all of the times that God has been faithful. I get distracted and discouraged by my circumstances.
And I've never been one to get hung up on the "HOW did this happen" question when I'm going through a valley. Ephesians 6:12 has always fully satisfied me in the regard. My problem has always been the question of WHY did this have to happen? If God is all-powerful (and He is) then even though I know "how" this happened... I still want to know "why" it was allowed to happen. "The Story of With" finally helps me to understand that I'm asking the wrong questions. My focus is in the wrong direction. I simply need to seek the presence of the Lord and stop struggling with the illusion of control and resolution. Through this Story by Allen Arnold, I finally get it. It's like he wrote this and customized it just for me... although I have a feeling that anyone else who reads it would feel the same way. And I want to read this whole book all over again.
I even see the error of previous prayers I've prayed when I've been more concerned and consumed with getting an answer instead of getting closer through fellowship with my Creator. Arnold wisely speaks to that when he says, "We face so many closed doors in our lives. We long for an open door. Any open door. Yet we will misinterpret so much if we assume every open door must be from God... The problem is we have an enemy who opens and closes doors too." In Mia's Story, she has been told to look for the blue door and to be ready when it appears... but later she is presented with seven blue doors and has to make a choice about which one is the correct one to walk through.
Mia also has to learn who she can trust. Not everyone who chases her is an enemy. And not everyone who helps her is a friend.
What I like as much as anything about this book is that I feel safe as I am reading. Arnold keeps coming back to Scripture and teaches it within its proper context. The four pillars of Mia's Story and what the reader learns are the same:
1. Stay Expectant (I love how he explains the difference between our wrong expectations and simply being expectant that God is in control in spite of how our circumstances may look at any given moment).
2. Awaken Your Heart (Seek God through prayer and through the gifts and interests He has already placed on your heart).
3. Know Your Identity (Don't let the enemy confuse you in this area, because this is your lifeline).
4. Do It Together (Don't forsake the assembling together with fellow believers on a regular basis. We need each other for encouragement and discipleship and growth).
Throughout the book, Arnold continues to focus on the central theme of creating. We were created in the image of The Creator, and we feel most fulfilled when we are creating, using the gifts He has given each of us, while in continuous fellowship with Him. And as we were created uniquely, so have we been gifted uniquely and thus each of us have an exclusive opportunity to experience intimacy with God through those gifts in a way that no one else can, in order to live the fulfilled life He planned for us to live. Zig Ziglar may have said it more succinctly, "You are the only person on Earth who can use your ability. It's an awesome responsibility," but Allen Arnold said it more thoroughly in the pages of "The Story of With."
Arnold's invitation at the end is for the believer: "It's time to start that journey of freedom. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Right now. You don't need more answers before you begin. You just need to be ready to ride."
There is a weekend retreat within the pages of this book... Sure, you may be sitting in a recliner or a rocking chair while your eyes scan the words on the pages of this book, but rest assured that you are getting away... you are going somewhere for a few days, and you are going to feel refreshed and ready for tomorrow by the time you reach the last page of this Story.
This is a modern-day allegory in the style of John Bunyan's classic "Pilgrim's Progress," and I wouldn't hesitate to say that it's even better! Allen Arnold has alternated each step of protagonist Mia's journey to find her father who mysteriously disappeared two decades earlier, with an opportunity for personal reflection at the end of each chapter for the holder of this book. The result is an intimate invitation to discover the Truth about the good parts and the bad parts of your own journey.
I. Love. This. Book...
because it's real. It's not a lecture. It's not boring. There is an intriguing story here that draws the reader in because it is relevant and relatable. Mia's struggles are my struggles. They are your struggles. Her questions about her setbacks are the same questions you would have asked. She's looking for the same answers that I'm looking for. In that vein, Allen Arnold got my attention early with this thought: "What if we allow the unexpected and unwanted interruptions to remind us that we never were in control in the first place? What if the disruptions we try so hard to avoid are actually opportunities in disguise? After all, the best part of a movie occurs when the hero's back is against the wall and all hope seems lost."
If you're like me, when things don't go the way I planned for them to go... or the way I wished that they would turn out... I have a tendency to lose heart. Quickly. And at that point, I'm not interested in the hero-in-a-movie analogy any longer. I don't care if I live happily ever after or if I eventually save the day, because I just want to survive. Sometimes when I'm going through a trial, my faith-o-meter takes a nose-dive as I foolishly forget all of the times that God has been faithful. I get distracted and discouraged by my circumstances.
And I've never been one to get hung up on the "HOW did this happen" question when I'm going through a valley. Ephesians 6:12 has always fully satisfied me in the regard. My problem has always been the question of WHY did this have to happen? If God is all-powerful (and He is) then even though I know "how" this happened... I still want to know "why" it was allowed to happen. "The Story of With" finally helps me to understand that I'm asking the wrong questions. My focus is in the wrong direction. I simply need to seek the presence of the Lord and stop struggling with the illusion of control and resolution. Through this Story by Allen Arnold, I finally get it. It's like he wrote this and customized it just for me... although I have a feeling that anyone else who reads it would feel the same way. And I want to read this whole book all over again.
I even see the error of previous prayers I've prayed when I've been more concerned and consumed with getting an answer instead of getting closer through fellowship with my Creator. Arnold wisely speaks to that when he says, "We face so many closed doors in our lives. We long for an open door. Any open door. Yet we will misinterpret so much if we assume every open door must be from God... The problem is we have an enemy who opens and closes doors too." In Mia's Story, she has been told to look for the blue door and to be ready when it appears... but later she is presented with seven blue doors and has to make a choice about which one is the correct one to walk through.
Mia also has to learn who she can trust. Not everyone who chases her is an enemy. And not everyone who helps her is a friend.
What I like as much as anything about this book is that I feel safe as I am reading. Arnold keeps coming back to Scripture and teaches it within its proper context. The four pillars of Mia's Story and what the reader learns are the same:
1. Stay Expectant (I love how he explains the difference between our wrong expectations and simply being expectant that God is in control in spite of how our circumstances may look at any given moment).
2. Awaken Your Heart (Seek God through prayer and through the gifts and interests He has already placed on your heart).
3. Know Your Identity (Don't let the enemy confuse you in this area, because this is your lifeline).
4. Do It Together (Don't forsake the assembling together with fellow believers on a regular basis. We need each other for encouragement and discipleship and growth).
Throughout the book, Arnold continues to focus on the central theme of creating. We were created in the image of The Creator, and we feel most fulfilled when we are creating, using the gifts He has given each of us, while in continuous fellowship with Him. And as we were created uniquely, so have we been gifted uniquely and thus each of us have an exclusive opportunity to experience intimacy with God through those gifts in a way that no one else can, in order to live the fulfilled life He planned for us to live. Zig Ziglar may have said it more succinctly, "You are the only person on Earth who can use your ability. It's an awesome responsibility," but Allen Arnold said it more thoroughly in the pages of "The Story of With."
Arnold's invitation at the end is for the believer: "It's time to start that journey of freedom. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Right now. You don't need more answers before you begin. You just need to be ready to ride."
September 21, 2019
4 stars purely for the message.
It is so true and beautiful and honestly refreshing. I needed to hear it, and I think every person and creative needs to too. It just points us to those obvious truths that we just seem to miss.
But the story was just... not great, and I was really hoping it would use story as it was meant to teach a message! I was so excited! But it let me down story-wise.
But it is incredibly worth it to read the book. Highly recommend.
It is so true and beautiful and honestly refreshing. I needed to hear it, and I think every person and creative needs to too. It just points us to those obvious truths that we just seem to miss.
But the story was just... not great, and I was really hoping it would use story as it was meant to teach a message! I was so excited! But it let me down story-wise.
But it is incredibly worth it to read the book. Highly recommend.
March 31, 2021
This book arrived in the mail today and I couldn't put it down. I'm a 70-something blogger and writer, about to publish my second book. I've made sure that God is part of the journey, so "The Story of With" confirmed so many things I've experienced. In spite of the undertow of the pandemic, community of creatives has gathered in the midst of it. A very enlightening way of creative living with the Creator Himself.
May 3, 2025
This was an easy read in a unique format. It was partly fiction and then partly explanation of the impact living like an orphan has on people. My husband and I began this as a read aloud together in 2022, but we only got through 4 chapters together. (He had already read it.) The writing was okay. I wrote down several quotes from the non-fiction sections. I appreciate the interesting way in which the author laid out the book.
February 6, 2021
A mix of allegory and devotional, this book is deep and thought-provoking. Inspiring as it is, it is not just for creatives, but will be beneficial to all. It gives a sense of warmth, and belonging with the Creator, while at the same time convicting where it is needed. A beautiful story of Home with our Creator. Just what I needed!
November 12, 2018
An excellent parable with insightful spiritual lessons. The author is Christian, but this book is not about Jesus. It’s about the Creator and our relationship with the Creator. So I believe it will be accessible to anyone who has faith in a Higher Power, regardless of how their own tradition views the Creator.
September 13, 2017
The best possible book for those who want to live an adventure.
October 4, 2019
"Whenever you start to focus more on your talents and gifts then on Him, you miss the main invitation. Which is to pursue them together. With Him."
Fantastic story. I was so encouraged by it!
Fantastic story. I was so encouraged by it!
February 9, 2021
A quick, enjoyable read with a great message. I recommend this especially to people seeking meaning in their faith and life.
February 25, 2022
This book is part allegory, part reflection on what it means to live in freedom from your true identity in Christ. I like the idea, and there was wisdom in the story. I think I’d have liked it better if it went a little deeper, maybe? But I enjoyed it overall.
May 24, 2023
This was the most thought-provoking book I've ever read. I loved the character's journey to discovering God and his purpose for her. It was a huge encouragement how the author talks about our walk with God, our relationship with God, and how He opens up our creative selves when we team up with Him and not try to walk our path without Him. This book I know I will read more than once.
September 26, 2025
Short read that you could finish within a week, but challenges us to read again and again. A timeless book that invites us to see what cannot be seen.
August 23, 2019
Once I approached the story aspects as an extended illustration more than something that could actually stand on its own, I liked this a bit more.
September 5, 2016
Through allegory and teaching, Allen Arnold invites us on a journey to discover our own stories so that we can learn to create with our Creator. The Story of With is an exercise in intrinsic thinking, self-discovery, and dependence on our Father. It reminds us that God is bigger than any problem we may face and bigger than any dream we may have.
If you create—on any level—this book is for you. If you are heart-sick, lost, or discontent—this book is for you. If you want to live a life WITH God, not just FOR God—this book is for you. I hope you find, as I found, a sense of renewed hope in the pages of this transformational story.
If you create—on any level—this book is for you. If you are heart-sick, lost, or discontent—this book is for you. If you want to live a life WITH God, not just FOR God—this book is for you. I hope you find, as I found, a sense of renewed hope in the pages of this transformational story.
July 29, 2018
This is the most amazing book I've read on following God's call in your life since Bruce Wilkinson's The Dream Giver. I cried most of the way through it and took a notebook full of notes in between. If you're struggling with knowing where you're going in life or business, if you need help as you navigate the pitfalls and struggles of following God's path, you NEED this book. The concept of doing life TOGETHER WITH God isn't new, but it's revolutionary, and if every creative Jesus-follower embraced it, we could change the world.
September 27, 2016
Deep calls to deep as this book delivers a drink of cool water to a weary creative parched from trying to journey alone. Through a mixture of allegory and teaching, each traveler is invited into Story and can't help but be transformed by the process. My copy is already tear-stained, highlighted, and even dog-eared...and will be read again very soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews