Puzzle Pieces

I am the type of person who loves to plan things out. To me, the planning part is more fun than the actual event itself.  I am also the type of person who wants all of my plans to go exactly how I envisioned them. Man, I can dream up some ideal scenarios in my head and then, when they don’t go like I had in mind, I can pout for days. As a teacher,  I am constantly planning for my students. It’s amazing though, how often the best lessons don’t come from my plan book. They come from something totally out of left field.

I really do think God laughs at us when we are making plans. Really,  I can picture him just sitting back and smiling.  Oh you think that’s the college you’re going to go to? Nope. Oh you think that’s the man you are going to marry? Not at all. Oh you think that’s the perfect job for you? Just wait and see. Then I look back at all of the mistakes I made and how incredible things happened because of them.  Like the lyrics in the Casting Crowns song “One day I’ll stand before You and look back on the life I’ve lived. I can’t wait to enjoy the view and see how all the pieces fit.”

I had an ideal plan for my life when I was 20 years old. It was not the plan He had for me at all. I had a vision of the type of man I would marry, the job I would have, the person I would be.  He had other things in mind and they were things I could never have imagined.   Another great thing about realizing God is in control of your plans? Realizing you are part of His plans for other people.  My husband was part of His plan for me. My best friend Lindsey was part of his plan for me. My father in law was part of His plan for me. When I look back at how I met these three people, I could never have imagined how they would help me grow in my relationship with Him.

Think about all of the people in your life that were part of His plan for you? It’s not always the positive people either. Sometimes it’s the terrible events in your life that draw you closer to Him.  It’s all part of his puzzle for your life.  Isn’t that just magnificent? I am now more aware of the things I am saying and doing  because I want to be part of His plan for others too!

Dear Paige, You won’t really know, until it’s all said and done, what His grand plan for you looks like. Just remember He has plans for others as well. You never know what opportunities you might have to bring others to Him. Be an example and a light to others who may not know the way. 

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.