I love this verse. I love that God knows exactly what He has in mind for us and we don't need to worry about it. If I had chosen how my story would be written out, I would have missed out on times to lean on Him. I would have certainly taken the easier route...avoiding loss of a job, infertility, loss of a baby, my husband having cancer twice, just to name a few. If I had "my way", I would not trust Him the way I do and live for Him completely surrendered to what He has for me even when I cannot see what He is trying to do at the moment.
I am a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist. I have been through so many stages of my life dealing with these two issues. There was the stage where I thought because I was those things I was better than everyone else. Then, there was a time where I absolutely hated (and I don't say that lightly) those two areas of who I was. I still struggle with that. Hating that part of me where my flesh takes over and says or does things that I am not proud of.
Even though I know without a doubt that God put the desire in my heart long ago to adopt a child with Down Syndrome, I still at one time was trying to take control and do it "my way". About two years ago, I surrendered my way to God and asked Him to do it HIS WAY. That is what is so absolutely beautiful about this story. If I had done it my way, I wouldn't be planning a trip to Ethiopia in the near future! If I had done it my way, I would have closed the door to any child that didn't look like my other children. If I had done it my way, I might have said, "Not now."
What would I have missed out on had I tried to do it my way? It makes me sick to think of that possibility. I have seen God show up in a big way over the last 3 months. We've been able to show our kids how God has provided for us in such a tangible way. We've been able to see His love for this little child by the way He is making His way unfold before our eyes.
So, maybe instead of a recovering perfectionist (doing things my way), I would like to call myself a "REFINED and RENEWED" perfectionist and pleaser. You see, there is only one that I want to please and I know His way is perfect for me. I want whatever He wants for me. There is much freedom in being in this place.
I am a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist. I have been through so many stages of my life dealing with these two issues. There was the stage where I thought because I was those things I was better than everyone else. Then, there was a time where I absolutely hated (and I don't say that lightly) those two areas of who I was. I still struggle with that. Hating that part of me where my flesh takes over and says or does things that I am not proud of.
Even though I know without a doubt that God put the desire in my heart long ago to adopt a child with Down Syndrome, I still at one time was trying to take control and do it "my way". About two years ago, I surrendered my way to God and asked Him to do it HIS WAY. That is what is so absolutely beautiful about this story. If I had done it my way, I wouldn't be planning a trip to Ethiopia in the near future! If I had done it my way, I would have closed the door to any child that didn't look like my other children. If I had done it my way, I might have said, "Not now."
What would I have missed out on had I tried to do it my way? It makes me sick to think of that possibility. I have seen God show up in a big way over the last 3 months. We've been able to show our kids how God has provided for us in such a tangible way. We've been able to see His love for this little child by the way He is making His way unfold before our eyes.
So, maybe instead of a recovering perfectionist (doing things my way), I would like to call myself a "REFINED and RENEWED" perfectionist and pleaser. You see, there is only one that I want to please and I know His way is perfect for me. I want whatever He wants for me. There is much freedom in being in this place.
Isaiah 55:8-9
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
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