Ever make a plan?
I do. I like to plan ahead. I think through a particular course of action, make a plan, and execute it. Most of the time I’m happy about “my plan.”
Sometimes I find “my plan” frustrated at every turn, and I realize that I have ended up with a situation I tried to avoid. Or thought I didn’t want. Or simply wasn’t expecting.
At some point, I stop going into damage control, realize that the unexpected result was God’s redirection, and relax because I know I can trust him. He knows the future and I don’t. He promises to give voice to prayer requests I can’t even articulate (Romans 8:26), so it makes sense that I will see answers that I didn’t know I wanted.
Take for example the baby music class that I thought I was going to teach with Bethel and Laurel. I figured it was right up Bethel’s alley, but it ended up that Laurel was the one who was most interested instead of Bethel. At some point, I saw that Laurel needs more mom time than Bethel, and I smile and nod, knowing that God saw that need before I did.
Still, any kind of change is unsettling. Fighting change and then smiling at God’s loving hand in that change seems to be recurring often lately! Maybe it’s just our season of life. Maybe I can feel our children on the doorstep of adolescence and I’m a little in awe of the new season. (Makes me feel like preschoolers were a piece of cake after all, contrary to what I thought back then!)
I can follow our good shepherd. How do you comfort yourself in the midst of change?
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
I feel you! We are right there in it and change has always been so hard for me; and now as some of my children are changing so much I find my center of gravity almost changing! So glad God never changes and we can trust Him.
I appreciate you and the way you share these thoughts so well. I can’t tell you how many times I have thought of you these last months and wish I could sit down and talk with you. Lots of tears even as I read this. Love you much, my friend!!!
I’m thankful you both have stopped by! I’m always encouraged when as sisters in Christ we can share lessons and blessings. 🙂