As a college student, my life is literally all about change. In the last two years, I have lived in two different places, taken dozens of classes, met new people, said goodbye to a few, learned new skills and started new jobs. All this change is exciting but it can also be very stressful at times.
When all the change starts to rise to the top and the stress begins to show, I find myself with the attitude of, “This is not what I planned!” or “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.”
How many times have we all uttered that first sentence?
“This is not what I planned.”
How funny of me to say, considering I call myself a child of the One who makes the plans and knows the end of the story.
In Proverbs 16:9 it says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
Sure, I “planned” my course but God places opportunities, obstacles and people in my life that make my steps match his pathway. At the time of the changes He makes, I don’t see the benefit, but looking in hindsight–every change that has happened has lead me to be happier, stronger or smarter.
Tweet ThisHow many times do we see in the Bible where God took a change that was difficult and used it to explain and show the gospel. He used the death of His ONLY son, a change that I can only imagine to be crushing to all who knew Jesus back then, to literally alter eternity for us.
I have a friend who shared an analogy with me last week about puzzle pieces. She said that all life experiences, good and bad, are like puzzle pieces. God sees the whole puzzle in all of it’s glory and we only see the pieces as we collect them. Now thinking about that example and looking at all the times I was upset or disappointed in a change (or a puzzle piece I picked up), I’m reminded that God is the artist and has the ultimate masterpiece planned.
When you think about the changes in your life, do you see them as puzzle pieces? Can you see how He orchestrates the events in your life to grow you, move you, and change you? Thank God for these opportunities to stretch you and draw you closer to Him.
So take heart friends, knowing that these changes have purpose and the puzzle pieces they make are part of a bigger picture that we cannot see.
With Love,
Kaitlyn
‘This is not what I planned’ appeared first on www. peacefullyimperfect.net
Leave a Reply