Have you ever been at a place in life where what you currently see is just not what you saw or envisioned for your life at this point in time? That place when you realize your reality does not match the dreams you had for your future. Those times when you try to keep the vision that you saw. You try to look past your right now or take any piece of right now and see how it perfectly fits into that vision, but still end up with nothing.
Well, let me be the first to raise my hand. Actually, I can admit that I am in that place right now. To be completely honest, this season of my life has definitely been a season of stretching and pruning. My right now is DEFINITELY NOT where I thought my life would be after finishing my master’s program. It’s a hard pill to swallow. Slowly but surely, I’m taking it down. When you come to the realization that your life does not look like it’s moving in the direction you planned, it can be a blow to your confidence. Speaking for myself, it was a blow to mine. I legit thought I did everything right this time around. At some point in this season, opinions of others became a point of focus for me. It’s one thing not to live up to your own expectations and a whole “nother” thing to not live up to the expectations of others. While we’re on expectations, where does not living up to God’s expectations fit in? Now that right there sat me down, shut me up, and caused me to re-evaluate my stance.
Recently, God told me not to be ashamed of my current situation, even though it does not align with what I saw and planned for my life. I was reminded that although it does not align with my personal plans, it is all a part of His plan for my life. He dropped Jeremiah 29:11-14 into my memory to give me comfort and reassurance that there is a purpose to the current madness in my life. There is an expected end that God wants to bring me to. Thus, the waiting and pruning process is bringing me to that expected end—the one He predestined for my life. These are tough processes to endure because patience and sitting still are two areas that I struggle in. However, meditating on that scripture has helped correct my vision, replacing my sight with His. As a result of the corrected vision, I am able to grab ahold of peace and push my patience. I am able to sit still where I am and recognize where I have grown and have become more of who God has called me to be. His corrected vision has helped me to see the light, despite the darkness and uncertainty that may surround me. I can see the good through the bad. I know that regardless of the bad or unfavorable moments that have and are occurring, ultimately everything will work out for my good. His plan is to prosper me and not harm me; to give me hope and a future. He will deliver and restore me! I am so thankful for God’s plan being larger than anything that I could have imagined. My now may not look like what I thought it would, but I know it’s the exact picture God had in mind for me.
I know this word is not only for me. So, if you are struggling with finding peace in where you are in life, irritated that what you see doesn’t match up with what you saw for yourself, seek God. Ask Him to replace your sight with His. Ask Him for His corrected 2020 vision to help you see things more clearly. If our vision is void of His, then it wasn’t the right vision anyways. What true value is in living up to your own expectations while missing God’s expectations of your life? None! Life is about doing the work that God assigned us to do and living up to the expectations He placed within us. If you happen to be in the same place that I am in, don’t give up. Remember that God’s plan is for you to succeed and not fall behind—plans to give you hope and a future! Embrace this moment and find solace that the pieces are all falling together for your perfect picture.
Peace & Love.
p. s. Check out the referenced scripture below. It’s a good one to meditate on. God will hear you if you speak to Him wholeheartedly.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 New International Version (NIV)
11 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
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