“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

I had a rough time after graduating college. The economy was in the tank, and I was having trouble finding work. I was living with my parents, missed all my friends, constantly bored, and I was probably the only person from my university that had graduated without a girlfriend, wife, or fiancée.

I can remember on one particularly bad day, my mother came up to me and said, “Ryan, God has a plan.” I don’t remember what I said to that, hopefully something polite, but what I do remember is that underneath I completely snapped. I hate it when people tell me God has a plan. I wanted to scream, “I don’t care if God has a plan! What about my plans? What about my goals, my dreams?  Does God care about them? Would God like to share this ingenious little plan of His, or is it just going to be a big surprise for later?”

Maybe you’re like me. Maybe sometimes the future looks dark and hearing someone say, “God has a plan” is the equivalent to rubbing salt in an open wound. If you are, I’ve got some good news for you: the Bible is full of people like us.

David was promised to become the next king of Israel. But before that happened he found himself on the run from a half-crazy Saul who wanted to kill him.  Daniel and his friends became leaders and high officials, spreading God’s word to Babylon. Of course, first they had to be kidnapped, renamed, and face death on multiple occasions.  Finally, Jesus’ disciples believed they had finally found the one true Messiah, and then had to watch the Son of God be executed like a common criminal. Do you think there were ever moments when each of them wondered, “Does God really have a plan?”

The truth is, God really does have a plan. We never know what tomorrow may bring, and we never know how past events, even the painful ones, might be used by God to create a brighter future. Life is tough, but that does not mean God doesn’t care. He knows what He’s doing; He’s got a plan.

Intersecting Faith and Life
Take some time to be alone and talk with God, ask Him to share His plan with you for your life!

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