Not every plan works the way we plan. I took my JEEP to have new tires installed and was told that it would take “about 40 minutes.” 90 minutes later the manager of the shop came in to tell me that the back wheels could not be removed. Two of their wheel wrenches were broken in the process and the nuts on the wheels had been damaged. I took it to the mechanic and they worked for several days to remove the wheels. He got them off, but the bolts were damaged beyond repair. The new bolts and nuts were ordered and were to be delivered last Thursday. Sadly, they have still not arrived. So this has limited my travel. We don’t always know why these things happen, but we know that everything happens for a reason. Meanwhile… we are praying for nuts and bolts, literally!
Sherry continues teaching the ladies class on Thursday afternoons. Here is a snippet from this week’s lesson: The Bible is full of confidence-building stories about women who faced their calling alone and found God faithfully behind them, working out all the behind-the-scenes details so that His plan could ultimately be realized through them. One of those women is Esther. She considered the calling (Esther 4:14).
First, is this something someone else can just as easily do?
Second, is this something I have a strong heart’s desire to do?
Third, is this something I feel God prodding my heart to do?
When we take these questions to the Lord and say, “God, please confirm to me if I am the one to do this” and then wait for His answer, we can be more certain that we are called to something and not just following our own desires or running in to rescue someone. Esther gathered prayer support and she made a plan and carried it out. She trusted in the Unseen.
The question posed to the class is “what is the dream that God has placed in your heart? The same God who went before Esther goes before you. The same God who fed 4,000 with seven loaves of bread still waits to multiply what you give Him. Why? Because He is a God of grace. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8). That doesn’t leave much room for failure if you are walking in His will.
Challenges and victories are a part of life. We are assured that God is in control of every part of our lives. When things don’t go as planned, we rest in the fact that nothing surprises God and He works in every aspect of our lives and ministry.
Thank you for praying for us as we continue…
