God has a Plan

I admit the fact that I'm a facebook junkie. It's sad, but true. I love looking at every one's pictures and videos and reading their updates day after day. I'm sure some people would call that simple-minded, but for me I consider it a lesson in psychology. You can learn so much about people, and the world in general by reading these daily statuses.
Today I was struck by an interesting similarity in two of theses such statuses. In one, a woman who had recently lost her job was talking about tough times ahead. She talked about her nervousness with the uncertainty but how she felt confident because she knew "God had a plan." The other was a mother up at my preschool who is carrying her third child and was recently diagnosed with preterm labor. Suddenly her pregnancy is routine no more, but she described a peace in knowing that "God had a plan." Within 3 hours, these two women, both facing incredibly difficult obstacles, spoke of the confidence they have in God to see them through.
We learn at a young age that "our God is so big, so strong and so mighty; there's nothing our God can not do..." We have all heard it. Most of us have sung it. We know it in our heads, but how many of us feel it in our hearts? Truly. To be able to take such a scary, mind-weighing battle and put it in the hands of our Lord is not easy. With the way our world is so control-driven these days, it is near impossible to sit back and give it to God. I have found in my own life, that only when a crisis seems absolutely insurmountable am I able to let go. The "Footprints in the Sand" prayer comes to mind. How many times do we all feel too tired to carry on; that we just need God to carry us through the next part of our journey?
I guess if there would be any revelation to me today it is this: First, these two women will have a much larger capacity to better handle their challenges, knowing that they are not in charge and, two, we don't have to wait for crisis to lean on God for help. If you are frustrated with your spouse, you can give it to God. If you are anxious about a storm, you can give it to God. The market has you down? God can help!
There is no magic wand. I know that. But there is grace and there is peace. To me, knowing that I am never alone (no matter how small the problem or how scary the situation) makes everything so much bearable. There is a way out of every trial we face, and that is the way of the Lord.