Unplanned.

I read this quote the other day, "My entire life can be summed up in one sentence, 'It didn't go as I planned, and that's okay.'" At first read, I said, "That's extreme, their entire life?" but then I kept thinking about it...because I agreed. Maybe not for the entire life part, but for the past few years, it is exactly speaking my words. As I was thinking about this, I read Isaiah 55, and that's really where I want to start today.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your way  and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
- Isaiah 55: 8-13

Maybe this might sound complain-y, but the point of my blog is to be open and honest, and sometimes honesty is like complaining. I am turning 26 this year. I know, I'm still young, I have lots of life to live, but I've got to tell you, I am really struggling with it. On the rounding scale I will now have to round up to 30. That's not really why I'm struggling with it though. I had this plan for my life, I've written about it before, but I'm talking about it again. I wanted to be married and have a kid on the way by the time I was 27. That was the plan, that was the goal, that was the dream. Every year that plan gets farther and farther away. Some days I'm super thankful that God crushed this plan and other days I am super bummed, because remember now, I LOVE a well written out plan of action.

Did you ever have a plan that didn't work? Maybe it isn't life altering, but a simple thing you wanted to see happen that didn't? Maybe you are living the broken dream right now?

Isaiah 55 gives me so much comfort in the midst of my struggle and quite frankly sadness. I want to pull some things out so that you too may have some hope. 

Verses 8-9: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your way and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Guess what? God's plans are better. Better than we can ever imagine. It's a verse used a lot, but it's truth: "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 Can you say all of that about your plans that you have made?

Verses 10-11: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth, It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Maybe your plan didn't work out like you wanted it to? Maybe you've been hurting and broken and wondering why? Maybe you feel like you are wandering aimlessly between failed attempts of new plans? When I read this part of Isaiah 55, I am given hope for my pain, hope for my trial, hope for my broken plan. God doesn't hang you out to dry, that's not his game. In fact, He is quite the opposite, He gives purpose to your pain. He doesn't call your plan dumb because it's not His. I believe he actually honors your dreams and he makes it better. Tremendously better. He makes His dreams your dreams. 

Verses 12: You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.

I love this. All of Isaiah 55 has incredible imagery. I recommend reading this over and visualizing the words, make them come to life. This verse specifically exudes confidence to me. It doesn't say,"hopefully you will go out and be happy" or "maybe the pain will stop." No, it says very definitely, you WILL go out in JOY and you WILL be LED forth in PEACE. You will walk with confidence into this new and scary and exciting plan that God has ordained, and the whole earth will be excited with you. And while we keep trying to make plans on our own accord, and when our plans continue to fail, God's plan will flourish. Doesn't that sound much more appealing?

**Side note, when I read about the trees clapping their hands,I see Liz Lemon high giving a million angels, now that's confidence**

So here I am, getting older everyday, living a completely different unplanned plan. It's scary. It's wonderful. It's not what I initially wanted, but it's now a journey that I can no longer imagine not being on. 

Where are you? What are you feeling right now? Stay strong in the process of pain, it's worth it because.;."You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." 

Remember you are worthy. Amen for that.