God’s Plans 

   “For I know full well the plans I have made for you, plans for your welfare and not for your misfortune, plans that will offer you a future filled with hope.” (Jer 29: 11) 

   Never give up on God; He has a plan, and it is a good plan.  Sometimes we may think God has given up on us and we give up on Him, but God never gives up.   He loves us eternally and always wants to bring us happiness and joy in this life and in the life to come.

   It may seem as though His plans are delayed or even that He has forgotten about us, but God doesn’t work by our schedule, and we are arrogant to think that He should.  Sometimes we go through hard times so that we can better appreciate the good that God has in store for us.  If we never know disappointment and sorrow, how can we know hope and joy?

   Sometimes the plans God has for us late in life are some of the best, a joy we thought we might never again know has suddenly been granted.  Something or someone comes into our life that once again shows us how much God loves us and how much He wants us to know joy and happiness.  Suddenly we again know the childlike joy that we thought was lost to us.

   Especially as we prepare to celebrate the joy of the birth of our Lord it’s good to look back over life and recognize the beauty of God’s plans for us.  It’s good to rest in confidence of the eternal love of God, knowing that He cares for us always.