A Plan Perfectly Carried Out

The disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! -- John 20:19

"When Jesus died, it seemed like the world had stopped. His followers were distraught and without hope. Yet God's plan was being perfectly carried out, just as it is in your life today." -- Living Water For Your Soul newsletter, Tyndale House Publishers, NewLivingTranslation.com.

I'm broke, yet I can't seem to cut any more expenses out of my life.

I'm tired, but I can't seem to get any more rest.

I'm overwhelmed. I feel like too many people are depending on me, yet I can't seem to cut any responsibility out of my life.

Lately, I have been asking myself, "Is this what God intends for me?"

Times are hard for everyone. Gas prices are up. Food prices are up. Utility prices are up. Wages are down.

It can feel like we are working hard, but not getting ahead.

I feel like often I am making a big difference in my community, but not in my home. I feel tired and used up and fear that my son and husband get what's left of me at the end of the day.

Are my priorities right? Am I right where God wants me to be?

The passage above is from a daily devotional I receive via e-mail from Living Water For Your Soul newsletter by Tyndale House Publishers (visit www.NewLivingTranslation.com to subscribe). It is incredibly comforting to me to know that God has a plan for my life. That makes me happy because frankly, there are just too many choices.

However, that doesn't make me, or you, exempt from making decisions. Our church, Faith Christian Center in Fort Scott, teaches that your actions and decisions should line up with the Word. Well, that narrows it down a bit for me, but what if I am still completely missing the boat? What if I'm not listening to what God is telling me to do with my life? Or what if I am in too much of a hurry to get where I think I am supposed to be going?

I am involved in a lot of good things. But are they good things that are part of my "plan"?

My problem is I do not like to disappoint people. I do not like to sit by idly and watch a problem persist that no one else is doing anything about. I do not like to tell people no. So I find myself living life to receive the approval of man and not so much God. As a Christian I know better, but it is hard to do.

A friend and I were talking about life decisions recently. She read a line out of a book of which I do not know the title. It went something like, "The devil's greatest accomplishment is not convincing people to do bad things, but convincing them to waste time is thinking about answering God's call."

I've been convicted to find a quite place in which I can spend time with God and really listen to what He is telling me. Then, the harder part, the part that will require true strength and grace from Him, is letting go of my own shortcomings and expectations and going forth with His perfect plan for my life.