“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.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Today I turn 30!!! Yep I said it, 30 years old!!! How in the world did I get this old? Twelve years ago I was graduating high school and heading off to college. I had the five year plan that most people have, you know go to college, have a great four years, find a husband, get married, have cute little babies and live the American dream! That’s what everyone does RIGHT??? Well, as many of you know my life hasn’t exactly turned out that way. But please bear with me! This is not a complaining post about how awful my life is!! Believe me when I say God’s plan is way better than any plan I could have made for myself! So, let’s get back to that plan I made for myself and how God has completely turned it upside down.
After graduating college I had a really hard time getting a teaching job. I went to Western Kentucky University and graduated with a bachelors in Elementary Education. I applied for hundreds of jobs and had over 30 interviews all over the state of Kentucky before accepting a teacher’s assistant job in my hometown. At the time I thought God has forgotten me and I felt entirely alone. Here I was 23 years old and living with my parents, no real job (in my eyes) and no husband in sight. Honestly, I spent most of my time complaining or praying and asking God what he was punishing me for. Looking back I wished I would have taken more advantage of this precious time with my parents and more specifically, my sweet daddy. You see this time with my daddy was a gift from God because in 2014, about 4 years later my daddy went to be with Jesus. God’s plan was better than mine!! When you are in the valley and you think God has abandoned you, he might just be giving you a gift and you won’t know till later in life. Don’t take one day or season for granted!! His plan is better!!! Let’s fast forward to the summer of 2011. I am still living at home, still wondering what to do with my life and I am invited to come live with my sister in Orlando, FL for a while and see if I can get a job there. At first I was like umm no! I can’t move across the country and leave everything I know. But I was kind out of options and I had about a week to decide whether I wanted to do this or not. So, I said God if you want me to move there, provide me a job. Guess what? Two weeks after I moved there I had 2 job offers!!! His plan is better than ours!!!! Let me tell you I have never regretted this move. He not only provided me with a job, he provided me with an awesome place to stay and a beautiful church and church family that I could have never imagined would be waiting on me. That was almost 6 years ago and it has been the best move I have ever made. The last two years have been some of the most challenging years of my life. In 2014 my dad got sick and I got diagnosed with a chronic illness. Those things were not in my plan! But because of these events God has given me a testimony that most people can’t help but see Jesus when they hear it. I can’t tell you how many times I have been able to share with people about how God has sustained me through these events. A few weeks ago I was able to share my story with my Muslim doctor. If that is not a divine appointment, I don’t know what is?? I’m like guys its Jesus, without him I couldn’t have survived the last two years of my life. I would have given up and thrown in the towel for sure!!!
But God has always had better plans for me than I have! I’m going into year 30 looking forward to the World Race!! I get to travel the world and tell people about Jesus! I get to see broken hearts turn to Jesus! I can’t wait!! Is it August yet?
Nothing against all you people who have followed your 5 year plan. I praise God for you and am so excited for you. But God had other plans for me!! Someday I still want all things that were in my plan. I love kids and can’t imagine never being a parent, but right now the World Race is what God is calling me to. That’s what he has for this season and I know how faithful he is. I know the other things will come later or maybe they won’t. I have no idea what God has planned for me when I come back, BUT for the first time in my life I am OK with that!!! I am content where I am and not knowing the next step. For those that know me well, you know this is HUGE step for me. I have back up plans for my plans and back up plans for those plans!!! I am a planner, but I am choosing to trust God in this season. His plan for year 30 is good, just as its been for 1-29!! ? I am so excited for the things that God has for the next year and half of my life. If you are feeling forgotten by God, please don’t. I know it’s hard but we serve a God who is big enough to hear your feelings and He cares for you so much! He has a BIG and GOOD plan for your life. Give him your YES and get ready for the ride of your life. Believe me I am glad I did!
