His Plan

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
For as long as I can remember, this verse has been one of my favorites. I wish I could remember the first time I heard it, but I can't. All I know though is that this verse probably has had the most impact on me. I have it in my room multiple times to always remind me and its also hanging next to a picture of me in our family kitchen. Every time I read it or hear it read, I have this overwhelming peace upon. God has a plan for me. Me, one of many many children of God. He has my next minute, my next hour, my next year, and my next ten years already set in stone. He knows what good will happen and what bad will happen or even if they will happen at all. Wow. He's amazing.
I was reminded of how powerful this verse is this week at practice one day. Coach always has a thought of the day where he uses a quote or a verse to start off pratice on a good note. On this praticular day, he pulled Jeremiah 29:11 out to use. I was so happy he did because I love hearing different people's perspecive on this verse. I obvioulsy loved what he talked about or else I would not be using it as a blog entry. (It's hard to put his words into my own words so I'll try my best.) He just talked about how some of us may not know what the future holds for us. We just know right now we were placed on this (Bethel's) basketball team for a reason. The reason may not be obvious quite yet, but one day we will look back and be thankful we were part of it. For some of us, we may only be part of the team for a short while, while others may be part of it all four years of college. Others may be faced with an injury right now and wonder why they have to overcome this injury right now in their life. He drew this all back to say that God has a plan for each and everyone of us and no two people's are the same. He challenged us that day to instead of thinking why does this have to happen to me, but rather thinking why not? Why not me? I should be happy whenever I am faced with a challenge because He knows we will make it through it as long as we look to Him for help. The challenge will be no challenge with Him as our side kick. I know that part of my plan is to be part of the basketball team at Bethel especially for that day so that I could hear Coach speak and to hear his challenge of asking why not instead of why. If that is one part of His plan, what else does it hold?
Sometimes I will be thinking and I will think, "Am I doing the right thing? Am I doing what God has called me to do?" Lately I have really been wondering, am I suppose to be a teacher. And truly I don't know. Every time I think along these lines, Jeremiah 29:11 instantly pops in my head. "For I know the plans I have for you, delcares the Lord..." He knows the plan even when I do not. He is the one in control. I am not. His plans are better. Mine are not. He is greater. I am not. All I need to do is follow Jeremiah 29:12,13. They say, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart." If I seek Him with every ounce of my heart, His plans will become eveident. If I pray and ask Him what He wants me to do, His plans will become evident.
As much as I and many others want to know what tommorow holds, only One person does. One day everything will make sense, but until then all we can do is seek after God  and follow the plan He sets in front of us. Just know that no matter how lost in life you may seem, God has a plan for you. It will be unexpected and He will ask you to do crazy things, but if you want to glorify Him, you'll be happy to do them.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.."
Part of your plan was to read this. Part of my plan was to write this.
He has a plan. Remember that.
:)