God has a funny way with plans. I’m often the first to share that marriage and motherhood has looked nothing like I imagined. The expectation and reality of both do not align. I imagined marriage to be this blissful, beautiful state of (honestly, don’t roll your eyes) perfection. My husband would make my dreams come true and bring me happiness. Life with my best friend!! What could be better?
I envisioned motherhood in a similar light. Our children would be sweet and never sassy. They’d be well behaved and dressed in adorable, spotless outfits that complemented each other perfectly. Our home would be clean, organized, and everything would have a place (and remain there I might add). Sounds dreamy, right?
However, when I look back at these expectations and then live our current reality that’s super duper messy and opposite of what I envisioned, where was I leaving room for God to work?
Life is hard. Things don’t go the way we plan. There’s hurt. There’s chaos. It’s loud and messy. But, there’s still beauty. For me the most beautiful thing about this messy chaos I live in is that I realize I need God. My need for Him is so much greater than if things panned out the way that I had planned.
God says, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Though His plans look different from ours, they are good. They work for our good, and they shape us to be more like Jesus: more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, more patient, more kind, more good, and more faithful (Galatians 5:22).
Maybe you’re out there feeling like God doesn’t hear your prayers.
Maybe you feel unseen.
Unworthy.
Ungifted.
Misunderstood.
Maybe you feel like your prayers are being answered with no after no.
Maybe you’re bitter or even hurt.
I see you. But even more so, so does God.
I’ve walked through many seasons of no after no. It’s discouraging. However, every no leads us to the path God has called us to. And remember: He has plans for us. Every season of waiting lends itself to the opportunity to become more like Jesus. And remember: His plans are for our good. They are for us to prosper and for our welfare.
Is it fun? Heck no! It’s hard. It’s painful. It hurts in parts that we didn’t know could hurt.
But does it mean that God’s not good? Heck no! He remains good in all circumstances.
I’m a big Romans 8 fan and remind myself of these Scriptures in ALL seasons.
“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:1).
“The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs – heirs of God and coheirs with Christ – seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may be also glorified with Him” (Romans 8:16-17).
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
“In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings” (Romans 8:26).
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28)
“If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?” (Romans 8:32).
“Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35).
“For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:38-39).
My friends, God is GOOD. Despite what you’re walking through right now, He is in it. Despite how you may feel, He sees you. He hears your cries, and He has plans for you. His plans for you are plans for your welfare. Does that mean that it will be easy? No. Will we get everything we want? No. But the reward to come is so much better than anything we can imagine. Our circumstances can remind us of our need for God, if we let them. Letting God shape and mold us through the mess, chaos, and unplanned circumstances will lend itself to be so much more than we ever could imagine. I challenge you to read through Romans 8 this week. Praying for you! If you have specific prayer requests, please reach out. Oh yeah, and remember to tell yourself that God is for you this week.
Comments