This morning I watched as my sweet Lilly scampered to her favorite toy in the yard. Just like every morning she is so excited to get the squeaky ice cream cone and squeak it around the yard a few laps before bringing it to me to toss to her. However, this morning the excited Lilly picked up her squeaky only to find that the end had been eaten off and there was no squeak present. A disappointed Lilly dropped her toy and then picked it up again, and yet again no squeak. Looking at me, I knew what had happened her little sister must have gotten a hold of her favorite toy. My heart broke for Lilly as I watched her conduct her own little investigation of the now non squeaky broken ice cream toy.
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope." -Jeremiah 29:11
As I stood there in the yard this morning watching the disappointment in Lilly's face, I thought about how in life we get disappointed when our life plans do not align with God's plans for us. Just like Lilly our excitement can quickly dissipate in an instant. Disappointment sets in and we struggle to understand the why's. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the failure of a relationship, the job that you had hoped you would get, and the list goes on. Our hopes and plans give in to disappointment and we don't necessarily see God's promise for a future and hope.
Train has a set of lyrics:
When it rains it pours and opens doors we thought would always keep us safe and dry.
Its the unexpectancy of disappointment like the saying when it rains it pours which we are not prepared for. Those doors are not keeping us safe.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and it will be opened for you." -Matthew 7:7
Lately, I have heard several friends say that they just don't understand why something happened. Unfortunately and fortunately, our most common response to this phrase is that it was just not part of God's plan. And while at that moment this does not heal our heart or calm our mind, it is true. It was not part of God's plan because his plan leads to a bright future.
My friend, Katie, posted this quote on her facebook this week:
"On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that's pretty good."
How true! Each one is evidence that God bring us through those bad days. Because every bad day is followed by a day full of laughter, love, and happiness. While it might not happen the next day that good day is right around the corner. When we ask, seek, and knock, God shows us his plan. I have an older friend who experienced a not so great first marriage, and then found her true love in her second husband. They were married over twenty years until his passing and to this day she says she will never find another "Al" to make her happy, but she is content with that. A bad first marriage was followed by a wonderful second marriage. I have another friend that lost her mother to ovarian cancer right after college. While she will never be able to replace her mom, she started a team that every year is one of the top fundraising teams for ovarian cancer research. I like to think that her efforts will one day contribute to finding a cure.
You see both of these are examples of disappointment that has led to blissful promises. God is there for us on our rough days to wipe our tears, but rest assured that He is responsible for those days where we sing Hallelujah too! However, to find out his plans we must pray and ask for him to show us, seek out his message, and be willing to sometimes take the chance to knock on doors that might not originally have been open for us.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28
Like Lilly, we will all experience those moments in life that we continuously pick up the squeaky toy, but no matter how many times we try it just won't squeak. Sometimes we have to let things go because it was not part of God's plan. However, we trust and have faith in the promise that God makes all things good. This afternoon, Lilly will get a new squeaky toy. Hopefully her new squeaky toy will bring her a new breath of happiness and she will think back to the disappointment this morning as an experience she was meant to have.... okay maybe not because she is a dog but you get my point.
God doesn't give us a road map, detailed directions, or blinking signs for life. Each of our disappointments are little stops along our journey that make us who we are and make us appreciate those Hallelujah moments! He does ask us to trust in him for he knows the plans for our welfare that promises a good future and hope for a better tomorrow.
In closing, I pray that your new squeaky toy is around the corner and that it will bring you a life full of happiness, love, and laughter. Our disappointments in life help shape us and in the end the journey is the best part because God never disappoints but always delivers on his promise.
Many thanks again for reading! I enjoy reading each one of your messages, comments, texts, posts, etc. Thank you for being my support system. A girl couldn't ask for better friends! Hugs and Blessings, Joy
Faith... patience.... love
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope." -Jeremiah 29:11
As I stood there in the yard this morning watching the disappointment in Lilly's face, I thought about how in life we get disappointed when our life plans do not align with God's plans for us. Just like Lilly our excitement can quickly dissipate in an instant. Disappointment sets in and we struggle to understand the why's. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the failure of a relationship, the job that you had hoped you would get, and the list goes on. Our hopes and plans give in to disappointment and we don't necessarily see God's promise for a future and hope.
Train has a set of lyrics:
When it rains it pours and opens doors we thought would always keep us safe and dry.
Its the unexpectancy of disappointment like the saying when it rains it pours which we are not prepared for. Those doors are not keeping us safe.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock, and it will be opened for you." -Matthew 7:7
Lately, I have heard several friends say that they just don't understand why something happened. Unfortunately and fortunately, our most common response to this phrase is that it was just not part of God's plan. And while at that moment this does not heal our heart or calm our mind, it is true. It was not part of God's plan because his plan leads to a bright future.
My friend, Katie, posted this quote on her facebook this week:
"On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100% and that's pretty good."
How true! Each one is evidence that God bring us through those bad days. Because every bad day is followed by a day full of laughter, love, and happiness. While it might not happen the next day that good day is right around the corner. When we ask, seek, and knock, God shows us his plan. I have an older friend who experienced a not so great first marriage, and then found her true love in her second husband. They were married over twenty years until his passing and to this day she says she will never find another "Al" to make her happy, but she is content with that. A bad first marriage was followed by a wonderful second marriage. I have another friend that lost her mother to ovarian cancer right after college. While she will never be able to replace her mom, she started a team that every year is one of the top fundraising teams for ovarian cancer research. I like to think that her efforts will one day contribute to finding a cure.
You see both of these are examples of disappointment that has led to blissful promises. God is there for us on our rough days to wipe our tears, but rest assured that He is responsible for those days where we sing Hallelujah too! However, to find out his plans we must pray and ask for him to show us, seek out his message, and be willing to sometimes take the chance to knock on doors that might not originally have been open for us.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28
Like Lilly, we will all experience those moments in life that we continuously pick up the squeaky toy, but no matter how many times we try it just won't squeak. Sometimes we have to let things go because it was not part of God's plan. However, we trust and have faith in the promise that God makes all things good. This afternoon, Lilly will get a new squeaky toy. Hopefully her new squeaky toy will bring her a new breath of happiness and she will think back to the disappointment this morning as an experience she was meant to have.... okay maybe not because she is a dog but you get my point.
God doesn't give us a road map, detailed directions, or blinking signs for life. Each of our disappointments are little stops along our journey that make us who we are and make us appreciate those Hallelujah moments! He does ask us to trust in him for he knows the plans for our welfare that promises a good future and hope for a better tomorrow.
In closing, I pray that your new squeaky toy is around the corner and that it will bring you a life full of happiness, love, and laughter. Our disappointments in life help shape us and in the end the journey is the best part because God never disappoints but always delivers on his promise.
Many thanks again for reading! I enjoy reading each one of your messages, comments, texts, posts, etc. Thank you for being my support system. A girl couldn't ask for better friends! Hugs and Blessings, Joy
Faith... patience.... love