Plans Hoped For

After a delay in my long anticipated college plans that I had been closely planning for many years – initially planning on attending the University of Notre Dame, but soon having many of my plans foiled by the surprise brain tumor that I was discovered to have in my Junior year of high school – I was growing frustrated with God. I had been planning out my life, my majors, colleges, what steps I needed to take, applying myself relentlessly at school, and now all of a sudden I was watching my hard work fade away and had no idea what my future held any more.

Today a very significant letter came in the mail for me, one that I have had to wait a long time to receive. My first college acceptance letter. To my first choice college that is located all the way across the country in Ohio. Now, to go across the country for college may not be unusual for most people, but when you’ve developed such a network of doctors like we have created here around us at home in Arizona, going across the country where there weren’t any doctors familiar with my complicated case wasn’t in the question. In fact, it was pretty much out of the question as far as everyone else was concerned. My hopes were crushed, knowing that physically we could work matters out so that I could get around, granted I wasn’t as mobile as I once was, but still I would have to re-network all the different doctors and specialties in order for the cross-country transition to work.

Ever since we picked up the mail last night, I’ve been struggling with the folder that they sent me from the college. Why God? Why let me get in, so close to my dreams, when I can’t go? But thinking and praying about it this morning I’m realizing, He has plans for me, plans to give me a future. It may be that He will work things out so that I can go to this college, and it may be that He has better plans for me – its up to Him. No matter what they are, they’re His plans in His hands. Not mine – He can see the big picture of it all, I’m only seeing a few threads of the final tapestry. He is making the plans for my future, and while I might have some input – I can choose to do my homework, to send in my applications for college, to stay off drugs, I can’t choose my future – Its God who gives me hope and makes the plans.

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.

Jeremiah 29:11