Growing up, I think we all had plans on what the future would look like for us. We do it even as adults; it's one of the things that helps us hold fast to our childhood. As time moves on we realize that most things don't go as planned, and even if they do go the way we planned them, it's probably not as spectacular as we thought it would be and reality hits us like a ton of bricks. In times like these it's easy to lose hope and we begin to question why we even bother thinking about the future, but God wants us to remember something:
"Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
Although it may seem like nothing in your life ever works out the way you want it to, He knows what we need before we do. I firmly believe that everything will work out the way it is supposed to in the end, and I do consider most things a blessing (even if they're a blessing in disguise).
When I was in highschool I met a guy and we ended up at the same college. We dated for nearly three years and throughout those three years, I planned out roughly the next 15 years of my life. I know what you're thinking, that I invested a lot of time into a guy I met in highschool, but I was sure we were going to get married. I was going to be engaged by my junior year of college and we would get married after graduation; we would move to a city and start our careers; we were going to have three kids...you get the point. Well, people change a lot in nearly three years and we eventually decided that it wasn't going to work out. Even though I knew he wasn't "the one" for me, I was still devastated. I'd have to completely reevaluate how my life would turn out, but I quickly realized that my life isn't mine. It's His.
Fast forward to four months later, and I just introduced a new guy to my parents. Let me just tell you now that I never imagined myself having to do that again, but like I said, most things are blessings. He is the most wonderful guy and I'm so thankful to have him in my life, as long as God allows him to stay.
So even though things didn't go the way that I imagined they would, God taught me a lesson. He taught me that even though He didn't give me what I wanted, He gave me what I needed. My trust in Him has become even stronger and I've learned that I really just want to do whatever God wants me to do. Sure, there's things that I'd love if they happened like getting married, having kids, etc., but I really just want God to use me however He wants to. I know that as long as I'm walking on the path He has for me, I'll be happier than I ever imagined.
"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9
