I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG).
During an interview with political analyst, Keith Olbermann, Elizabeth Edwards, author and wife of John Edwards, was sharing how she copes with dealing with plan b. She said, in essence, that you can't practice eternal disappointment when things don't go your way. She was saying this in light of a son who died; two bouts with cancer and dealing with the infidelity of her prominent and very visible husband. Elizabeth had resilience, the name of her book, and the ability to adjust after adversary. She didn't succumb to living life with regret and bitterness and sinking into despair and discontent when the initial and desired plan was not realized. She didn't get stuck in the various difficult moments of her life. She moved passed them and embraced what could happen after those situations. In no shape or fashion did Mrs. Edwards live in denial. She was clearly aware of the intensity of each of her issues. It appears she went through the process and steps of loss, and she reached a level of acceptance about life and what life can bring. Sadly, life is not always fair, but Elizabeth Edwards has proven that it is livable – even through the unfairness.
There are a great number of biblical characters who had to accept plan b for their lives as well. But, maybe their plan b was always God's plan and will. Although Moses was living comfortably and successfully in Egypt, was it not God's desire for him to be the leader who would lead the children of Israel from bondage and slavery to a place where they could worship God freely? "And say to him, 'GOD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you with this message, ‘Release my people so that they can worship me in the wilderness.’ So far you haven't listened"(Exodus 7:16). There was also David who was tending sheep for his father, Jesse; and there is no suggested biblical text that reveals he desired more than that for his life. He was living out his plan. Then God called him from obscurity to become the beloved and controversial king of Israel. "And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah" (I Samuel 16:12-13).
The above illustrations, Moses and David, are for the, most part, favorable stories. However, there are people like Mrs. Edwards who had to make adjustments after encountering tragedies. Maybe, the coping mechanism for those types of situations is the wonderful verse where God told the children of Israel: "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG). These are words of comfort - our beloved God knows the difficulty God's people are going through and God will take care of us and will not abandon us in the midst of our transition. Then there is the wonderful promise that God is concerned about our future.
Simply, God will help us pass the most unbelievable moments of our lives and bless us with a satisfying future. God will give us the strength to endure and adjust to God's plan for our life. It may seem like plan b, but maybe it’s simply that we are coming into agreement with God's plan and making the declaration that Jesus made: "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39). Plainly, there may be some things that are unavoidable and some bitter cups that will not be removed: hurts, losses, disappointments or adversities. Nonetheless, may God give you strength to say not my will but your will be done. In other words, not my plan but your plan God.
Prayer: Lord I accepted your plan, A and B, for my life. Lord just let your will be done, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Peace and Good Journey!
+t. anthony bronner
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