It seems many of the things Mike and I have had planned the last few years have not gone as expected. Thankfully, we are used to this so I choose to look at it like I cannot wait to see what God is going to do. I trust that He has something way better than I could expect.
I learned this lesson while living in Greensboro and hoping to come back to Wilmington. We had kind of given up on moving back home and found a lot in a new neighborhood. As soon as we put an offer on it someone came and offered more. This happened twice and we were so disappointed. We had looked forward to a new house but we were disappointed there were no trees and not an established yard. Soon we found a brick ranch with a beautiful and big fenced in yard. A deck with a hot tub, a screened porch and a big kitchen like I wanted. We were thrilled. Within two years Mike had a job offer in Wilmington and we were able to make good money on our house, within a month, for sale by owner. Had we built the house in the new neighborhood we would not have made much money if we would have been able to sale since they were still building. God had a much better plan for us! Jeremiah 29: 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.'"
Our life has never been a straight path! God did not take Moses and the Israelites on the shortest, easiest route to the Promised Land. They had roadblocks, detours, the Red Sea in the way and many other challenges along the way. Even with the twists and turns God will take us to where He wants us to be and it will be better than anything we can imagine. Ephesians 3: 20, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..." We just have to trust God! Isaiah 30: 21, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'” Following God isn't always easy but it is always worth it!
"Optimist: Someone who figures out that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's a cha-cha."