Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In the summer of 2015, my mother made plans. There were places she wanted to visit…articles she wanted to write. She offered to keep her great-grandson, Nathan, on Fridays, while his mother worked. She declared that she would host our family Thanksgiving meal. And then, she was diagnosed with cancer and thrust into a new “plan” that included trips to doctors and hospitals for tests, chemotherapy treatments, hair loss, and ultimately, a hospital stay that led to Hospice care…and all of her plans went out the window. Throughout all of this, Mother would say, “God had other plans.”
In the last 5½ years, this phrase has rung in my ears many times…“God had other plans.” We planned so many things that never happened…children’s programs at church, Space Camp and play performances for Timothy, uninterrupted in-person school for all three children, dance and cheer performances for Zola, hikes through the Ozarks for Greg and his friend Rick, and more. But God had other plans.
So many things that we thought would happen never materialized. Sometimes, what happened instead was a disappointment…but more times than I can count, I clearly saw God at work in the “new plan.” When I was unable to safely go to the pool for exercise, I started a walking program again – and I feel stronger and healthier as a result. As I grew stronger, I started taking walks – and a few hikes – with Greg, and we are hoping to do more of this in the fall and winter.
Isolation and social distancing have caused us to rethink how we approach several things…how to “make do” more often…and prompted us to prepare healthy meals at home since dining out is not a safe option. I’ve read more books, done some much-needed cleaning and sorting, and we have watched a lot of interesting movies and series on TV and online. We have gained a new appreciation for interaction with loved ones and friends. I still remember the first hugs we were able to exchange with our children after vaccination…and their declarations that… “I’ve waited SO LONG for this hug!” and these were “the best hugs ever!”
God had other plans. And as a result, I feel like we are more intentional, and more deliberate about our daily living. We take less for granted, and we don’t sweat the small stuff.
The world is filled with people who are suffering in some way. And many are probably asking God, “What kind of a plan is this?” Others are likely wondering, “What’s the point of making plans if God is going to change them?” I am resting in the promise of Jeremiah 29:11. This was one of my mother’s favorite Bible verses – even in her last days. I will keep planning…with an open heart and mind – and an understanding that my calendar entries, hopes and dreams are written “in pencil.” I will trust that there will be times when my plans align with God’s…and others when they are vastly different. My prayer is that I will always have the courage to accept God’s changes with faith, hope and dignity.
I am asking God to give me confidence in the perfection of His plans and how much He loves and cares for me. We must keep making plans and seeking God’s will. The more we strive to align our desires with His, the more we will see His hand in every single aspect of our lives. We will learn to trust that when “God has other plans,” they are truly the best – and move forward in them with hope and courage. To God be the glory for such amazing love and care!
©2021 Debbie Robus
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