Usually I don’t find the news very inspiring. The only reason I watch the news anyway is to see what else is going on in the world (even if it’s not always an accurate picture). But I definitely don’t view the 5 o’clock news as my source of inspiration for the day. Until I heard this story.
The story was about one of the local high school baseball players that was picked in the 26th round during the MLB draft for the Cardinals. (You can view part of the story here: http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/262329/188/Francis-Howell-senior-drafted-by-the-Cardinals) He also had a scholarship to play baseball at Mizzou. On being asked how he would ever decide between a college education and his dream of being a Cardinal, Graves responded, “Whatever happens, happens. God’s going to put me in the right spot and do what he wants with my life. He will put me where I need to be.” In a society that rarely acknowledges God in the media, I was surprised to hear Graves’ answer. Surprised, but inspired. It was awesome to hear someone so young and so in the spotlight publicly announce that he was just waiting and trusting in the Lord’s plan.
This, of course, reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11, and how that verse has rang true in my life, especially in recent months. It has always been one of my favorite verses, but I have never been able to truly accept it.
“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
As much as I love the Lord, I do struggle with letting Him have control of my life. I am a planner, a go-getter, a doer. It drives me crazy when things don’t follow my plan. If I want something, I work hard to get it. If something needs done, I do it. I don’t like to ‘sit back’ and just let things happen. I like to be in control, but at the same time, convince myself that really, I am trusting in the Lord’s plan.
And yet here is a verse from the Bible that reminds me I am NOT in control. God promises that I will have a future filled with prosperity and hope. He tells me that HE is the ultimate planner. He knows where I will be every step of the way. I should take comfort –and even rejoice- in the fact that the same God who created the sun, the moon and stars, the beautiful land that I live on, also created the blueprint of my life. There is nothing that will happen or that I will do in the future that God didn't plan, or that He doesn't know about.
At the same time, I realize I can’t just sit on my couch all day, every day, doing nothing, and expect to be a part of God’s plan. So how, then, do you know if what you are doing is what God has planned for you?
Jeremiah 29 goes on to say
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” –Jeremiah 29:12-13
To me, this verse answers that question. Seek the Lord, and you will find Him. Seek the Lord and you will find Him. Spend time daily in God’s Word. Have conversations with Him. Pray, pray, pray. And when you seek God with your WHOLE heart, He promises that you WILL find him. Not may, but will.
How has this worked in my life? Last December I started praying about a mission trip that I really wanted to go on. I’ve only been on one other mission trip, but it was the single most amazing experience of my life, and I’m seriously considering mission work as a physical therapist in the future. The only problem was that the trip was through a radio station (99.1 JoyFM) and open to everyone who wanted to go….except the team could only have 50 people. I did make it on the team, and then ran into another problem. The cost of the trip was quite a bit more expensive than I expected, and I didn’t know how I would ever be able to afford it, especially since I was a full-time college student with a part-time job. And the final payment for the trip was due before I even began my summer job.
I’d always heard people say that if your plan was God’s plan, all the details would fall into place. But, of course, because I was the one in control, I just didn’t understand how $2200 was just going to appear for this trip. An amazing friend of mine, who has really been an inspiration to me spiritually, suggested praying about the funding for the trip and maybe even sending out letters asking for donations.
Absolutely not.
That was my immediate response. I did not ask people for money. I took pride in my ability to provide myself with the things in life I needed –with a little help from my parents. There was no way I would send out letters asking other people to give me this trip. Not even if it was for me to help others.
And so I prayed. And prayed. And prayed some more.
But no matter what I did, the idea of donation letters would not leave my mind. And the more I prayed, the stronger my desire to go on this trip was. Every time I sat down on the computer, I was tempted to start typing a letter- just to see if I could come up with anything that might convince someone that my cause was worthy of a donation. Until one day, I sat down and actually did write the letter. And I promise you this; they were not my own words, but God’s. And while I did ask for money, I made sure the recipients knew that I would be grateful for whatever they could contribute, even if it was simply prayers. I knew I would be needing a lot of prayer over the next few months in preparation for the trip. Then I called my mom, borrowed our family address book, and started addressing the 50 envelopes by hand.
By the time I finished all of the letters and sent them out, there was exactly one month until the final payment for the trip was due. I continued praying faithfully that God would place a desire on the hearts of my family and friends to contribute to my mission. Three days later, my mom called me and told me I’d received my first check in the mail. It was for $50, and from someone that I hadn’t expected would donate at all. The next day, I received two checks for $25. And it continued….every day my mom called to tell me about more donations that I’d received. $250, $50, $100, $25, $10, even $5. Most of the donations came with lovely, inspiring notes of support and encouragement which will be traveling with me to Colombia this summer. :)
I was so overwhelmed by everyone’s support and generosity. On May 7th, a week before the final payment was due, I was able to pay off my remaining balance for the trip. In less than a month, I received $2,200. I couldn’t believe it. All the people in my life were an amazing reflection of God’s love. And now I am convinced that God wants me to be in Colombia this summer. Thanks to Him, and the monetary support I have received, I am going to Colombia and lives are going to be changed-mine included. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for my mission team and the people of Colombia!
And so with this experience, God showed me that with Him, all things are possible. When we let God’s plan for us become our plan for us, great things will happen. Whatever God has planned for you and for me will be a thousand times more amazing than anything we could have imagined. :)
from Jess, with love<3
always
