"For I know the plans I have for you..."

Wow. Life. It never ceases to amaze me. We think we're headed one direction, and suddenly we're headed 180 degrees in the other direction. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
So many times I've had plans that were pretty good plans, or at least I thought so at the time. And God said no. That always bugged me. Why would a God who loved me and wanted the best for me shoot down my dreams? But lately I've realized the "No" answer never stopped there. I just usually stopped listening when God said, "I have a better idea."
Seeing His work in my life is incredible. So many times I would have ended up miserable if things had gone the way I wanted them to.

Things I Know:
1. God always knows better than me. Even if I can't see it at the time, His plans are far better than anything I could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
2. God will do things the way He wants to, in the time He wants to. That means sometimes I have to wait for His plans. However, they're going to be infinitely worth the time I spent waiting. Always. If I'm waiting on Him, He's going to give me the strength and patience not to give up (Isaiah 40:31).
3. If I follow Him, he's going to lead me to the people I need to know, the things I need to learn, the trials I need to face. He's not going to leave me to flounder in the dark, but I have to follow Him and seek His kingdom before everything else (Matthew 6:33).
4. Since God's in charge of my future, I don't need to worry about it. This involves letting go of my own will and submitting to His. After all, if I trust Him to save me from eternity in hell, can't I trust Him to take care of earthly problems and plans? If I humble myself to Him, He will take charge and I won't have to worry (1 Peter 5:6-7).

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11

~greeneyes :)