I was washing dishes tonight and listening to my iPod. (For some reason I can’t do housework without listening to music.) There’s just something about singing that has always calmed me. I love music. There is something so peaceful to me about singing. I had my iPod on shuffle and on my “favorites” playlist. A song came on that I have heard a thousand times but it instantly brought tears to my eyes. Seventh Day Slumbers song “Every Saturday” The chorus goes, “I’m barely hanging on with all these empty feelings, I’m hurting in so many ways, though I can’t begin to understand the reason, I still believe that you’re God.”
Have you ever felt like that? That you are barely hanging on? I do not handle stress well. And even though I try not to worry about the problem at hand, I still struggle. These lyrics describe perfectly what I feel when I’m stressed and worried.
Sunday’s sermon was exactly on time for me. Pastor Stoney talked about change and perseverance. I will confess that I’m not a huge fan of change. But I think it’s more than just change that I don’t like, it’s the unknown. I know that God has a plan. That his ways are so much better than mine, that he has everything under control and that what he has for me is better than what I could ever imagine for myself. I know that I’m supposed to trust him. I know all of this. But it’s the in between that I do not like. The unknown is scary for me. It’s hard for me not to be able to see the big the picture.
My favorite verse in the Bible hands down is Jer 29:11. It says, “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 absolutely love this verse. I cling to this verse anytime I feel scared about the unknown. I know that God knows the plans he has for me. That his plans are the very best. I have hope.
I don’t know all the reasons why we go through things in our lives. I wish I did. It would be so much simpler to know why we go through it exactly when it happens. But I do know that every time we go through something, there is an opportunity for growth. To grow closer to God. To learn to trust him a little more. And even though the unknown is scary and stressful, I know that God is still God. He still sits on the throne. His plans for me is still to prosper me and give me a future and a hope.
His plans for you are the same. To prosper you, to give you a hope and a future. I hope this verse encourages you as much as it has me today.
Hugs,
Erin
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