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Joyfully Accepting




I'll start by saying the last two weeks have been a whirlwind for sure. 

I've been reading through Ezekiel, and I hate to say this, but sometimes I get stuck on parts of the Bible that I just don't think relate to my life. (But as always, I am SO wrong-but I'll get back to that.)

So as many of y'all know, I was in a pretty scary car wreck on Tuesday. Literally every part of my car was destroyed-except for the front of the driver's side, which I was able to walk out of. That in itself is a testament to why God has the greatest timing, planning, and protecting possible. 

The wreck was terrifying, but in reality it was one of the lesser hardships of life. Personally, I have dealt with losses that make losing my poor little car look like nothing.

I was asked the day before the wreck at a retreat "When all is said and done, how do you want to be remembered?"

I said that I want to be remembered for choosing to find joy through Christ. 

The week before the wreck, I was able to go back to my favorite place-Camp AOK (a camp for pediatric cancer patients and their siblings). While this is just a fun week, it's my favorite week of the year because as a counselor, we get to see teens who have experienced unthinkable hardships get to just radiate innocence, fun, and joy for a week. 

I think that's a little bit like what Heaven will look like. We get to go to this amazing place, and no one is going to question us on our past hardships, trials, or sins. We get to have the innocence of being children of Christ and just live in that joy for ETERNITY!

So let's get back to Ezekiel. Ezekiel 13 is about false prophets-which I don't really think relates to my life. Or does it?

I don't go around sharing about a false gospel... But don't I do something similar?

I feel things so strongly that I make myself believe "this must be God's will", or I fear things so much that they "can't possibly be part of God's plan".  I even let these phrases creep into conversations with others. 

Maybe I'm not alone on this. Maybe we all have similar thoughts?

"I like this boy SO much, God must have a reason for that!" 
"I can't possibly lose this job, God would never make me go through that"
"She can't be that sick, God HAS to heal her"

We decide what we think is best, and just assume that God agrees and has made it part of His plan. Lucky for us, He is a little better at planning than we are. 

Right now, I am in a season of fear. Fear of driving long distances, fear of rejection, fear of not knowing the future. I also know many people are having even greater, scarier fears.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

While the Lord calls us not to fear, He also knows some scary things will happen. 

If we think back on all the times of not knowing, aren't we glad God didn't answer our prayers exactly how we wanted them? (On a light-hearted note, ever heard Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks? 😜) 

But really, God knows what He is doing. He knows the plans for me, He knows the plans for all the kids I got to meet last week, and He knows the plans for you. I'm so glad that I'm not in charge, and I'm going to try really hard to not declare false things about His plan. He might be calling me to just wait-and that's okay. 

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.


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