His Plans Are Higher
Written by Jenni Moon, Fellowship Bible Church Celebrate Recovery Devotional Team, 11/13/19
I've always wanted to be good
enough. That feeling of inadequacy led me
through the depths of chemical dependency, sexual addiction, and self-reliance.
I felt that nothing ever went my way. My life was a tragedy, and not a tragic comedy
either.
Thanks to God working through Celebrate
Recovery, my life is no longer a tragedy, however, tragedies
do still happen. Recently, I moved into a new home. It was a leap of faith that
I could afford it. Twenty-six days later I stepped off the curb on my way to a
job I loved and received three avulsion
fractures in my right ankle. As a CNA, I knew my career was through. Although
it took a month of denial before I reached that conclusion, I did not have to
choose to use mind altering substances or sex to numb the pain; physically or
mentally.
Through it all, God has been there.
Deuteronomy 31:6b states that God never leaves nor forsakes us. No matter how
we choose to use our free will, God is with us. A spiritual life is not simply
a theory, as we have to live as God would ask us to; accepting God's blessings
whether or not we see them as blessings at the time.
I often have to remind myself that
God knows the desires of my heart (Ref Psalm 37:4 NIV), but He also knows
what’s best for me. That's is where my faith in God's plan comes into the
equation. I am reminded of Jeremiah 29:11, that God’s plans are to prosper me,
to give me HOPE and a good future.
Celebrate Recovery teaches us through the Eight Principals
that God
gives us workable tools to help us as we wait patiently for His timing.
While I envisioned a long career as
a CNA, God saw that I was needed elsewhere and knew I would be too stubborn to
go on my own. He yearns for a personal relationship with us, (Ref Hebrews 11:6
NIV) and will use our hurts, hang-ups, and habits to draw us near. In my case,
He used a hurt and a habit. I WANTED to use pain
medications. Through my faith I CHOSE to use God's word.
A Bible that is tattered and torn
apart is usually owned by someone who is not. We must join God in His word. In
John 8:31 Jesus says, "If you hold to my teachings you are really my
disciples." Maybe we don’t get to keep a job we loved, but we do get God's never ending grace and mercy.
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper
you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah
29:1).
Click HERE to listen to "Nothing Else" by The Belonging Co, featuring Cody Carnes
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