Corona Devo 657

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  ~Colossians 3:17

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  ~Jeremiah 29:11

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Driving home the other night, our fifteen-year-old got surprisingly serious.  He asked if I had ever "demanded" that he "get A's" in his classes? 

I quickly assured him that we had not, but they usually follow if you have studied the material, and that part we did establish.  

He (and each of our kids) strive to maintain personal goals of achieving "A's" (not for us, but for themselves), and I think he was searching for the catalyst of it.  He wanted to "blame" me, but I have to "blame" God: 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  ~Colossians 3:17

Our kids (and all children/people are) were capable of doing well, so we did what we could to encourage the discipline of achieving it.  

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As our son continued in conversation with us, he shared his realization that (in reviewing his life) he felt that both the difficult things and the good things had "worked out" for him, and that most of his "good things" were a combination of the two.  Funny how God does that, but beautiful and almost holy when we realize it.

He said he appreciated Christian schooling until middle school which gave him "a good foundation".  

His "Christian foundation" continues to be tested (as all of ours do), but the "start" that he had is working for his good.

And within that (Christian school) environment, he said he was thankful for opportunities of speaking publicly (speech meets, class-hosted chapel services, plays, etc.).

He is (now) very comfortable speaking publicly, and has done so in community events, within the Debate class he just took (and got an "A"), in meetings for clubs/internship/ministry outreaches.  

But I beg to differ with his phrase that things "worked out"...because the reality is that God has a plan for his life, and God works through all of our experiences.  

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  ~Romans 8:28

Yes, it was a long car ride, and he just kept sharing...

He said he also saw how "things had worked out" even with hard things.  He had a lisp for years as a child, and while he (of course) knew it was an issue, he also received disdain from children and even family members about it.  But years of speech therapy and hard work brought his "r's" up to speed.  It wasn't easy for him though, and he is extremely proud of that struggle and his triumph over it.  

He also opened up about "always being teased for being chubby".  (He's a gregarious kid, but he also loves food (he gets that from his mom), and learning how to walk away from temptation of any kind is difficult.)  But he said that one day when a kid was laying into him (verbally) in 3rd grade, he remembers just deciding that what that boy said did not define him.  He stopped caring---not about himself, but about the words that others used against him.  He knew he was more than what they said he was.  And he was right.  

He has been an active member of a suicide-prevention group for years and he fits this team because he has had experience relating to the mindset of wanting to give up...but deciding not to.  We all have.  Why not use our hurt to help someone else?  

That's not my idea, don't blame me.  It's God's:  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  ~Romans 8:28  

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Has it all been roses?  Blue ribbons and leading roles and easy "A's"?  Of course not.  

But have all of the plans had a purpose?  Even the hard ones?  Yes.

Did the difficult things end up bringing prosperity (in some form)?  Yes.

Were (are) the strived-for victories sweeter because of the preparation, perseverance, and pain?  You bet.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  ~Jeremiah 29:11

God's got a plan for you and me.

These examples focus on our son, but I offer them without pride and only as a prototype.  They tell his story, but we each have one.  

Please apply these life-giving verses to your story:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  ~Colossians 3:17

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  ~Jeremiah 29:11

Each of our lives are composed of a million tiny experiences by which we have been shaped and formed : victories and blessings, as well as challenges and defeats.  Both the difficult things and the good things will in time "work out" for us, and most of our "good things" are a combination of the two.  Funny how God does that, but beautiful and almost holy when we realize it.

Realize that God has plans for you today.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).  

Blessings, 

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com