For I know the plans I have for you

What an awesome, relaxing weekend.  Andy and I were able to sneak away to the city for 3 nights and just enjoy each other.  I knew we needed "us" time, but I don't think I really knew how much we needed it until we got there.  

The weekend came at great timing.  Last week I had some blood work and the blood work was abnormal which means more testing...  It's crazy how fast life can change.  I'm sure that everything will be ok, in fact I know that everything will be ok no matter what the outcome because I know my Father.

If you know me at all you know that I am usually one who gets all bent out of shape when something is wrong with my health.  I'm not a fan of Doctors, I worry about treatment, I worry about illness without cure, I worry about death.  But not this time, I know my Father already has plans, He already has it all worked out.  

On our way home from Chicago today though I started to worry, I felt that old uncomfortable feeling sneaking in.  And God said Jeremiah 29:11.  I even said it out loud.  For those of you who have never heard this verse it is one of my favorites; 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.  

When I came home I felt the need to refresh my mind of what followed Jeremiah 29:11 ~

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (New International Version)
 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.  Then you will call upon 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.  I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

How incredible is it to know that the God of this world will listen to us when we call upon Him and come to Him in prayer.  How incredible is it that no matter what the circumstances we find ourselves in His plans are to prosper us and not to harm us.

As long as we are on this earth there is going to be pain and suffering.  The world we live in is broken but the God we serve is mighty and powerful and if we allow Him access He will provide through any circumstance.  Whether that be bad test results, job loss, financial crisis, death, __________(insert whatever brokenness you are experiencing).  

God's outcome may not be the outcome we would have chosen but if you are anything like me past experiences tell me that is a good thing.  At the time my way has looked like the better choice.  Fast forward a few years and I am able to look back and say yeah, He was there in control and wow did He know what He was doing and wow was I foolish.  His ways are not my ways and for good reason.  Isaiah 55:8 says ~  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

So I am placing it all in His hands and encourage you to do the same.  I am trusting that the plans He has are to prosper me and not to harm me.  I am trusting my Father, even when the world around me and sometimes my own mind says otherwise.