My life verse isn’t an unusual one. I’m sure there are many who share it with me as a favorite.
Jeremiah. 29:11, “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.”
I love this verse because it talks specifically about God’s intervention in my life. HE has a plan for me. HIS plan is to not harm. HIS plan is one of hope. I can know I’m in good hands. Right?
If I’m being honest, I have to say that the last four years of our family’s life have been ones of uncertainty and disappointment. While our son has a son of his own, our daughter and her husband have not yet been able to keep a baby here on earth with them. Cate has what is called a Balanced Translocation, resulting in miscarriage and loss of infant life due to insurmountable birth defects. It’s a chromosome issue that runs in our family. Their first baby was lost to miscarriage four years ago. A year later they found out they were pregnant with Wynnie, a little girl. Then, the devastating news that Wynnie had many birth defects and would not survive outside the womb. She was stillborn at 38 weeks. Both Cate and Ben went through a tough time adjusting to her loss, which included months of counseling for Cate and then medication. In the midst of all of this, they became aware of Snowflake Adoptions....adopting embryos that are frozen in order to give them a chance at life. So far, two transfers have failed. They have three embryos left.
As I write this, I’m contemplating deleting it and going with something that has a happy ending. It’s making me sad as I remember and write, but I think that these sad accounts can still bring something good. Neither Ben or Cate have given up hope. They are putting their trust in Someone who loves them more than we do!
These waters have been so high, but we have His promise that we don’t pass through them alone. He is with us as Isaiah 43:2 says:
As we wait on Him, He renews our strength and we will mount up on wings as eagles.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Without the difficult times triumph would not be as sweet or as meaningful. God uses every bit of life to draw us closer to Him.
So, in the end, yes, I think that we really can trust the One who says he has plans for us, not to harm us, but to give us hope and a future. We can trust Him because He is faithful.
My dear friend (and my pastor’s wife)…
Debbie Slagle and her husband, Tony, live in South Bend, Indiana, and have been married for 37 years. They have two adult children and one living grandchild. Their entire married life has involved full time ministry, and the past 16 years have been in the pastorate.
Comments
Post a Comment