His Plans VS. Mine

He Knows the Plans! ………and that can be hard on a “Type A” personality!

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

…. I remember when I was younger, I tried to plan out my life. I was going to be a professor on a college campus and get married when I was in my late 20’s…….
…. I have been married 35 years, getting married at 19.

…..After getting married, we were not having children…at all……
….Six years later our hearts seemed to change and our eldest was born. The six months it took to get pregnant seemed like an eternity. And trust me, I know that is no time at all.

…..The eldest became my life and my plan was to have exactly 3.5 years between children, and of course it would be a girl since our other was a boy…..
…..Needless to say, there is 2.5 years between my children, both boys.

Wait a minute! Things were not going as I planned!! Imagine that!?!?

…..I planned to stay at home with the boys and then go to work in the public schools and teach.…..Stayed home and homeschooled the boys for ten years. Joke was on me.

I could go on and on, but I know that you all understand.
Fast forward a few years…..

I starting teaching again ten years ago. Not a doubt in my mind that I was to do it. Those were not my plans. I was working at a contemporary Christian radio station and enjoyed it so much. I was not ready to leave. But the Lord knew we had a need and He provided a way for us to pay for our children’s college education. I got a job in one day. A job that I didn’t even know was available until I “showed up” at the special education office to ask about substitute teaching in the district.

But I knew I would go back to the radio station someday…in my heart of hearts I knew. There again, MY plans got in the way. I taught longer than I should have….and the last three years proved it.

I was to teach long enough to get the boys through college, but I saw the “dangling carrot” and a chance at a retirement. I stayed, even though I knew I was to go. Each year became more miserable than the one before and it affected my health. I did not listen.

I have been out of teaching for one year and four months and I have no regrets…even without the salary that came along with it. I have been having a great time working at a clothing boutique(office manager..type A personality needed) and healing. Guess where I am now as well?

Back on air at that very radio station. His Plans.

Abba Father is so gracious and full of love for us. His plans are always better than any we can come up with ourselves. There are detours along the way and things that happen that we have no control over as well And even in those times, He can take them and make them for our good.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

As I grow older, I am still learning to wait on Him, trust Him and not get ahead of Him. I am so grateful that I can truly rest in Him and His love….and His plans.

So I am rethinking the “living on the coast and writing a best seller” plan….

~Be Blessed

IN CHRIST ALONE