Her Future Plans Are...

Last night I went to see our high school's annual Beauty Revue. Our beauty review is a little different from most places. It is only for seniors. This is an event that is special for our senior girls...if they want to participate, of course.

I enjoy beauty reviews like many women. I have my list of names and pen ready to begin numbering, starring, and picking my finalists.

I enjoy this particular beauty review experience because of the information shared on each young lady. Of course, they list the activities, clubs, church activities, and community service that each girl is involved in. Then, they talk about the adult who had the biggest influence on them as a person. Those are always sweet. The last thing that the MC talks about is each young lady's future plans.

Isn't that funny how we, as girls especially, plan everything out. I laughed...sometimes out loud...as I listened to each young girl's perfect plan for their future. Let me see if I can remember some:

• Graduate from college, go to college at a major university majoring in [whatever], marrying the man of her dreams, having three kids, and become a buyer for a major high end department store like Saks Fifth Avenue.
• Graduate from college with a bachelor's in [whatever], marrying her high school sweetheart, and having two children who play tennis or football at Ole Miss.
• Graduate from high school, attend college in a big city with a great public transportation system or marrying a rich man and having a chauffeur.
  

Do you see why I laughed? I know that your senior year is the best time to have a dream and GO FOR IT! You must have a plan. Something to strive for. It is fun, however, for me to look back at my senior year and think about my future plans.

Have you noticed how we always say I plan to... We never really stopped to consider what HIS plans were. Of course, the one comment that kept sticking out to me was "marry the man of her dreams and have 2.5 kids." I think about how that plan really may not be His plan. I certainly had MY plans. I planned to have 2 children by now. I planned to be a stay-at-home mom by now. I planned lots of things that just never happened. Although I was sad to see those dreams, or plans, come and go...I am anxiously awaiting His plan.

I just finished talking with my mother-in-law about this tonight. She has struggled with some health issues and we discussed this. As the conversation ended, she stated that she prays for healing and relief. I asked her this strong question..."What if that does not happen? What if His plan is different from ours?" I only asked this question because I have dealt with this question myself, and I must say that it hurts to think about.

In all reality, God does not owe us ANYTHING! We owe Him EVERYTHING! He gave His only son so that we may live forever. So that we may not experience eternal death. All we have to do is accept His gift and ask Him to come into our lives. So, although I want more than anything else to have children and to be a stay-at-home mother, this may not be His plan. And although we all want complete healing for my mother-in-law, it may not happen. We must realize that He knows best. He knows our yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows. He has a plan and it is more than we could possibly imagine. (Eph. 3:20) We need to give it up! Give our lives over to Him and let Him take control. Trust Him with our lives. Our prayers might need to change from asking Him to fix things to asking Him how He wants to use us today. How can we use our current situation to bless others or show others to Him.

I think about precious friends, family members, and church members who have struggled though unimaginable difficulties, pain, and suffering. I think about how they pointed us to Him with each struggle, each pain, each difficulty. When they were down, they picked someone else up. When they were in pain, they helped others heal by their faithful example. When their struggle seemed lonely, they were surrounded by those who were touched by their example.

How will others remember you? What does your life show others about Him?

When your plans don't work out....

Take a look at us...not living our "planned life." Living HIS planned life!

What will you do with your circumstances? How will you use what the Lord has given you to serve Him, give Him the glory, and point others to Him?

Jeremiah 29:11 says,

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."