Welcome Home Sunday: When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned

Happy Sunday, friends! I usually write this post on Saturday nights, but I was exhausted last night so I decided to get up this morning and type it. As I sit here and type, my husband is lying next to me, barely able to move. Yet again. The doctors have concluded that there isn’t much more they can do for his back and his limited ability.

And my 5 year old has his microphone singing worship songs to us. He is following in his daddy’s footsteps. My husband lead worship for 10 years before his back left him unable to stand and sing any longer. He is singing “In the Eye of the Storm” by Ryan Stevenson and the words are piercing my heart this morning.

When my hopes and dreams are far from me
And I’m runnin’ out of faith
I see the future I picture slowly fade away
And when the tears of pain and heartache
Are pouring down my face
I find my peace in Jesus’ name

In the eye of the storm
You remain in control
In the middle of the war
You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor
When my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me
In the eye of the storm

When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned

This year is not going the way I planned. I had so many hopes and dreams that I wanted to chase this year. But “the storm” has brought them all to a halt. If you remember, several months ago I shared my word for the year – FEARLESS. I chose that word because I wanted to be fearless in the pursuit of chasing those dreams. But now I find myself just struggling to make it through each day. But with a fearless attitude nonetheless.

It’s tough when life doesn’t go the way we planned. It would be so easy to give up and become bitter. A wise friend once told me, “you can allow your circumstance to let you to become bitter, or you can allow them to let you become better.” She said this in response to losing one of her children. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain of losing a child. But if she can allow the pain of losing a child to help her become better, it gives me hope that I can get through this difficult season and become better because of it.

Our circumstances and life plans may change, but God does not. He has sovereignly planned our life before the beginning of time. None of what you, or I, are going through is outside of His control. Yes, I believe that we may make decisions that take us outside of God’s will, but He sovereignty realigns us in time. Here are a few scriptures that remind me of this:

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. -Proverbs 19:21

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

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. -John 16:33

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. -Romans 8:28

These are promises friends! And God doesn’t break his promises like we sometimes do. Trust in God’s plan for your life, even if it’s totally different than what you had in mind. He is going to use it for good, likely in a way that you never could have imagined.

If my family weren’t going through the difficulties we are, I never would’ve started sharing these encouraging blog posts. I started sharing them mostly because I needed them. Writing has become healing for me. But if I can reach even one person and give them a glimpse of hope, it is all worth it. And that, my friends, is how God can use bad for good.