God and His mysterious ways

God and His mysterious ways

God really is mysterious.

I was taught growing up that He always

Answers our prayers… it’s just that the

Answer isn’t always “yes”.

It can be “no” or “wait”.

Often it is “wait”, then “yes”.

He always knows the plans that He has for us,

And He knows what’s best.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,"

says the LORD. "They are plans for good

and not for disaster,

to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 8:28

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.

Throughout my life, when I got to the other side

Of the “waiting period” and to the “yes”,

I have come to realize that God’s “yes”

Is still different than my own.

When I ask for something,

I often see in my mind and heart what I want

The outcome to look like.

Later on, I am given a blessing

And it takes a minute but I discover

That this IS His answer

To an old request, and it just looks totally different.

But somehow, it always works.

Now I will do my favorite part of these posts:

Give a list of examples.

When I wanted a husband

I started wanting him when I was still in college.

I dated men who were a terrible fit for me.

God closed the door.

Sometimes I was angry, sometimes I was relieved.

Only a month after college, I met a boy

And right away I knew he was special.

I wanted to marry him, but God still closed the door.

…. For a few years.

While the boy healed from some personal demons.

And so did I.

He was in and out of my life.

But the door was closed on a wedding.

Eventually, I started to look elsewhere.

Then, one day a few years ago,

When it was HIS timing and not mine,

God gave the boy back to me,

Gave us both a nudge and said in His own way

“get hitched”.

And we did. In less than 6 months from receiving

That “nudge”.

Though I never had a picture in my head

Of my future husband’s facial features,

I did have my heart set on one boy I knew

And I got a “yes”, after a long wait.

When I wanted some new friends

God has answered this prayer many ways

Over the years.

Most recently, I was lamenting how my closest friends

Had moved on.

When I asked God to send new ones,

I pictured married-but-without-kids ladies

Like myself.

Instead, God has used me to bring friendship

To people who really need it.

One in particular is a girl from my alma mater

Who was a year ahead of me

And has been married for several years,

Has a 3-year-old girl and another on the way.

Her husband left and she has needed

Lots of support.

When I told God I wanted a friend,

I never would have pictured Him

Using me to go be the friend

To a grieving girl who needed help

Around her house.

When I secretly wished for some new clothes

I had to stop shopping so much

When “adulthood responsibility” hit.

Sometimes I would mention to God how

I fantasized about a few hundred dollars

“falling from the sky” so I could go shopping.

While that did not happen,

He knew I would have a coworker

who has a daughter

Almost my age and roughly my size.

And that daughter loves to clean out her

Hardly-worn clothes and shop again and again.

I always get the clothes.

Thought not exactly what I was looking at in catalogs,

They are usually very useful.

I get layering tank tops, cute shirts for summertime,

Sandals, even a sundress or a sweater here and there.

Because I have them,

When I can afford to shop I can focus on nicer things.

When I thought one day I’d work my way up to being the boss,

Because I thought that was the logical thing to do

Since I work in retail banking,

God let me see why it was a terrible idea for me.

While I have a great boss who is patient and forgiving,

I watch her work herself practically to death

Pulling long hours, volunteering in all her free time

And allowing everyone to invade her personal space

All the time.

The other bosses go off the grid and everyone complains.

Everyone loves my boss because she’s so thoroughly

Invested in people… but it costs her.

She has no free time and constant colds.

That’s what it takes to be the best.

And that’s just not for me.

God said “yes” to me working here

But “no” to me working up the ladder.

What’s his plan for the future of my career?

I don’t know yet.