"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
We moved to the country when I was 17. Now, we called it "the country" because my sisters and I lived the first part of our lives in the city of Birmingham. So when we would go visit our grandparents, they lived in "the country" as we referred to it.
Once we would get to a certain point in our drive to visit our extended family we would begin to recognize the change in the landscape. Wide open farmland. Dirt roads. Country air. Overalls. And convenient stores where everybody knows your name. :) Am I right?
Well, when Pop and Gran broke the news to Sonya and I (Tammy was already married), about the move, they let me know that Pop and I would stay in Birmingham so that I could finish my senior year. Gran and Sonya would go ahead and make the move so that the farm could start running and Sonya could get established in her new school.
Fine. By. Me.
My world would not be interrupted by this crazy idea. I would go on merrily about my life like nothing had changed! Until it did!
Pop had to be in "the country" more often than not to help out on the farm, so I was at home alone a good bit of the time. I soon realized I didn't like this plan at all, and was angry about the whole situation! Just imagine with me, a teenager, in a bad mood and no one to take it out on. (Namely her mother...poor Gran.)
I felt abandoned! So I took things into my own hands and loaded up all of my belongings in my little car and took off for "the country". If I was going to be mad I wanted somebody to know it!
That's where things shifted a little for me. Looking back God met me right there in my car during that drive. I was angry, hurt, crying mad tears and asking God, "WHY?"
I didn't want to move! I didn't want anything to change! I wanted MY way!
About the time the landscape started to change a peace came over me. I know now that He was whispering to me, "I know the plans I have for you, Kim", "I have all you hope for and I hold your future in the palm of My hand". "Just trust Me."
It took me awhile to stop making Gran pay for this misgiving, but I eventually realized that:
#1 God's plans are so much bigger...better.
#2 You can trust Him...with your life.
#3 A house doesn't make a home...it's the people!
I love you & He loves you more!
Lord Jesus, thank You for being patient with me, even to this day. Your purpose is bigger! Your plans are brighter! I will trust in You always. Amen.