I thought I had some pretty great plans for this year. Some of them were:
1) To be completely healed of Graves' disease and never experience any thyroid issues again
2) To adopt 2 little ones from Africa
3) To keep encouraging my husband in his role as one of the associate pastors of our church
4) To have a tidier house
But my plans aren't actually what stands in the sovereignty of God's perfect plans. His plan involves:
1) Still struggling with ups and downs of hyperthyroidism and possibly doing so for the rest of my life
2) Adopting from the U.S.
3) Encouraging my husband as he transitions into the lead pastor role in our church
4) Having a house that often looks like a tornado ran through it
It can be bewildering, scary, unnerving, and just plain hard to wrap my mind around it all as I see His plans standing instead of mine. What's happening certainly isn't all bad, but it is very different than what I had planned. I know that other people might be confused as well by what is actually happening vs. what I've thought and said would happen. But really, that's how life always works. How often do I actually get exactly what I think I need? Far more often, God surprises me with a greater and better plan than I ever would have imagined on my own. His plans are way more informed and wiser than mine ever could be. If He would have let me persist in my own plans all my life, I'm sure I would never have known that I need a Savior. So most of the time, I'm glad that it's His purposes that stand instead of mine. And for the times I'm fighting to believe that, these verses bring me comfort:
"All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies." Ps. 25:10
"You are good and do good; teach me your statutes." Ps. 119:68
Yup yup....Life happens according to plan....just not mine!! I hear you!! I'm so excited to hear about your new opportunity at church for both of you, really. The adoption sounds exciting.....I feel for you dealing with these health issues. My poor hubby does too...a lot of pain and disrupted nights from his broken back (fall of a ladder a couple yrs ago.) And a messy house?? At least it's a happy house :) What does the Lord require? Just glad his yoke is "easy" and his burden is "light."
ReplyDeleteGreat verses to cling to! I'm excited to see all that God has planned for you!
ReplyDeleteLove that verse from Ps. 119; such a great statement of our God's character!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKatie I love you! I love your candidness about life. If I've learned anything over the course of my life its one thing. We have dreams, and ideas of what life will look like. God seems to take those things and mold them/us into his purpose. The dreams are often fullfilled, but not always the way we anticipated. The ideas often come to pass, and some things He lets us walk thru for purposes we may not know until we reach the other side of glory. In an indepth study of Joseph and the sovereignty of God this summer, I have been able to look back at the things I thought were going to happen, or where life was taking us and could see how each thing (some very painful as you know) God used for our good, and oftentimes the good of others. Many of those things we still don't know why, but are able to see His hand at work and oh what comfort that brings. I have read about Joseph's life a million times, and taught it a million times. But what our Pastor shared from the pulpit was amazing, and our whole church was blessed beyond measure. I will attach the link so in your down time if you listen to sermons, its well worth it! Go to the May 29th message - it starts there. You will be blessed!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gracechurchaz.org/media_library