Counting It All As Joy

How annoying is it when things don't work out? Or when reality doesn't quite meet your plan? It's hugely frustrating and disheartening. I speak from experience and say that no one ever thinks that it won't work out when you are so excited for the opportunity in front of you. But sometimes, it just doesn't.

Psalm 30:5 says "The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter", and I honestly cannot express the reality of this enough. When things don't go to plan or when things go wrong, there will be pain, hurt and I'm sure plenty of tears, but when that season is over, laughter and joy come. There is a quote that goes something along the lines of 'only in the darkest night can you see the brightest of stars', meaning that in our darkest or most challenging times, is where we learn to grow, to let go of baggage, and to step into the glory of a good God, where we can live in joy, laughter and goodness. 

People often say that God's plans are greater than our dreams, and I have only recently learnt what this means. Whatever we plan and whatever we strive for, God can out do us a hundred times over. Goodness is the breath of God, and as his children, he just wants to lavish love and goodness on ALL the days of our lives, and if that means that we have a season of pain then so be it, because when you walk through to the other side you will see life not from your eyes but through the eyes of a loving father. Life is quite like a tapestry, we only see the messy knots and tangled threads of the back, but God sees the full picture, in all its beauty and glory, and it's time we started to truly believe that God's plans really are greater than our dreams. 

To be quite frank, I have no idea what I want to do in life, what I'll be doing this time next year, or what career path I want to take, but I know that if I chase God each day and trust in his timing, then my life will always be full of joy because that is what follows each trial. Don't be disheartened, God doesn't say it'll be easy, but know that what he has planned for your life, will always exceed what you have dreamed.

"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. 

He's got your back.

J