We all make plans, and we all have had plans fail. Small plans like meals with friends, and big plans like where you plan to go to college. Any time a plan falls through, there is some level of disappointment. Most of the time, the big plans hold the most weight and bring the most disappointment when they flop. We all know what that feels like. My summer has been plagued with this kind of disappointment.
This summer started off pretty great. I got to spend more time with some friends I hadn’t seen. I got to spend time at a friend’s house and get to know her family. I got to start helping at my church more. Everything seemed to be all fine and dandy for the most part.
Shortly after my stay with a friend, I got sick. I was coughing, had trouble breathing and was just overwhelmingly exhausted. I knew something was wrong, but I had plans to be a part of an outreach ministry that I have volunteered with in the past. It has been a huge part of my summer and has brought me great joy. Unfortunately, I could not participate. I held off going to see a doctor because I was hopeful that whatever it is would go away in time, but it didn’t and still hasn’t.
I’m still dealing with this now and it has kept me from doing a lot of the things I wanted to. I miss doing some kids’ clubs because everything took so much out of me. I started feeling better with meds and tried to do more. I got worse again, though. I missed more clubs and I had to cancel more plans. It has been horrible and I know everyone knows what it is like.
My biggest plan for this year of school was to play soccer. This was my plan last year, as well. Two weeks before I left, I got hurt and ended up in a walking boot and physical therapy. I was angry, frustrated and hopeful. I knew this injury was not the end of the road, and once I was better, I got to practice. We had a tournament and I got to play. Nothing could kill my joy. I was even more hopeful for this year. Then I got sick.
Failed plans bring about a lot of negative emotions (unless the plan was to go to class but then it's a snow day, so you do a happy dance). The main feeling you experience is disappointment, and then you have two choices. You can let that disappointment lead you, which means that you look through a lens where you see nothing ever ending well and everyone failing you. You ask ‘Why have hope?’
The other choice you have is to accept it and then let it go. It happens, sometimes a lot, but why should that stop us from making plans and trusting people? I have to admit, I chose to let the disappointment affect me. It is difficult to not want to quit. There is hope, though. There can always be new plans and opportunities. Now instead of playing, I can help the team in other ways by being manager. There are always more things to look forward to, and a change of plans is not the end of the world. Plans do fail, but they can succeed, too.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
God has a plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11).
God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9).
God is always in control (Isaiah 45:7).
