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