God Has a Plan for Your Life

Welcome! This week we’re reading Chapter 4 “God Promises Hope for My Future Despite the Pain of My Past” in Renee Swope’s A Confident Heart.

“We can trust God’s plans as we realize that His story is being written in ours. His power is perfected in the broken places we consider to be our greatest weaknesses—our most vulnerable emotions we don’t want anyone to know about.
“What story is God wanting to write in your life? Will you let Him?” (Renee Swope, A Confident Heart)

How do you feel when you read this on page 76 of A Confident Heart, by Renee Swope? When I read it, I have mixed emotions.

I feel hopeful and excited. How incredible that God has me in mind! No matter what my past may be or how I’m struggling in the present, He has plans for my future. Some days that is hard for me to fathom. Being human, I can only comprehend what I know, what I’ve experienced, and what I can imagine. So, knowing that there is more to my story than what I’m aware of—that gives me hope for the future, strength for the present, and comfort for the past.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

God promises each one of us a future and a hope. It doesn’t matter that I can’t see it yet, or even imagine it. Faith and trust in our one true God tells me that I don’t have to be able to see it or understand it. God promises it, and God keeps His promises. That, I can rely on.

I feel humbled and excited that God can use me in His Kingdom.

When my daughter was a small child, she wanted to help with whatever I was doing. “Can I help? Can I help?” she would ask. And I would find something she could do to help me.

Sometimes I feel like that. I want to ask Him, “God, can I help? What can I do?” Of course, God doesn’t need our help, He allows us to help Him. I picture my daughter smiling up at me letting me guide her in the task, and I imagine myself spending time with God doing what He’s asked me to do, following His example.

When I read what Renee wrote I feel the desire to persevere. Life is far from easy. We face trials and situations we would rather not go through. But I find myself wondering how God will use those trials in His plans for my future.

We live in a fallen world and we will continue to work our way though struggles and hardships. God doesn’t promise that the road of life will be easy, but He does promise to travel it with us. Through each adversity I believe God refines us, growing us to be more like Him. My trust and faith in God and His promises are strengthened, and I find that the less I struggle against Him, the more I can feel His presence. Knowing that if God brings me to it, He will bring me through it gives me hope for the future and strength to persevere.

In Christ,
Laura

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.