This is one of the most comforting truths I know. It’s especially comforting during uncertain times, like these — times when life just doesn’t seem to make sense. 
God is in control.
The longer we walk with God, the more we can look back and see His hand in our lives. I was just telling my son about one of my “Look what God planned” stories…
In 1998, the summer before my senior year in college, I found out I was pregnant with Emma. I was 23, and Dave and I had been married 2 years. I planned to wait at least another 4 or 5 years to have children. I wasn’t ready!! Also, I was an Education major, and my student teaching was planned for the semester I was due. I had to scramble — I couldn’t have a baby in the middle of my internship! I went to my academic counselor, who advised me that switching majors was my best option; so I changed, senior year, from English Ed to English Lit. I took 18 hours – all Literature – that first semester, so I’d have a lighter load when I was due. Switching majors made no sense. How could I be an English teacher without an English Ed degree? And we planned to move to Texas after I graduated, so Dave could go to seminary. I was going to work full-time to get him through. What would we do now?
Even though I couldn’t see it at the time, all of this was God’s perfect plan! Being a young mom in Midlothian Texas was just what I needed. There were so many other young moms – and older moms! They loved Emma and me, and they taught me how to do this most important of jobs.
Speaking of jobs, one of my mom friends connected me with a community college, where, because I was an English Lit major, I could teach remedial English. I was able to work my classes out when Dave was home, so he got time with the kids (the other 2 were born in Texas). The majority of my students were non-native English speakers, so I had to learn to break down our language. I also saw, through my students, that learning a new language takes time. Especially as an adult! I had to tell them so often to give themselves grace, to not be so hard on themselves. The language would come eventually, but it wouldn’t come overnight.
Those lessons were incredibly helpful when, in 2005, we moved to Costa Rica to learn Spanish. I was able to help fellow missionaries break down the grammar, and I was able to encourage them – and myself! – to give grace and not be so hard on themselves. The language would come eventually, but it wouldn’t come overnight.
All of this from one “random”, unexpected event!!
I have so many more stories like that, so many more ways God has worked in ways I wouldn’t have imagined. I’m sure you do, too. And these are the stories we need to remind ourselves in times like these, when so many of us are in the middle of “why is this happening??” moments. God is at work! He has a plan. And He is FAR more concerned with our character than our location or our comfort.
What is God trying to teach you right now? To trust Him? To worry less? To look for ways to help others? To pray more? Ask Him!
And, when you get to the other side of the story He is writing right now, share it with others! Remind them of how good God is, that He loves us, and that He is in control.
