Frustration and God

I woke up frustrated. I rarely oversleep, but I had that day.

I’d had a tough night spent dreaming about all the things I hadn’t gotten done at work, after an evening of frustration and feeling like I let a friend down.

Circumstances beyond my control or ability to change prevented me from helping her out as I had planned. Now I would not have time for both God and the gym if I wanted to get to the office on time. I chose God and unpacked my gym bag.

Then came the text and the phone call. My brother’s mother-in-law had died of the cancer she had so valiantly fought. He was on his way to the office to tie up a few things before heading to the airport to pick up his sister-in-law.

His wife was helping her father walk through things that needed to be done. My beautiful sixteen-year-old niece was home alone.

I was sure her heart was breaking. She so loved her “mom-mom.” Hanging up from my brother, I texted my niece to see whether she wanted to go out for a cup of hot chocolate. She instantly responded, and I headed to her home instead of the office. We sat and talked for a while. I dropped her off at home just in time for a friend to pick her up and take her to her sister’s. As I headed to work much later than anticipated, I realized that if I had gone to the gym, I wouldn’t have been in a place to take my brother’s call or go and hang out with my niece. God had orchestrated details that had left me frustrated and beating myself up at first because I didn’t see the big picture.

But He had. “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. It’s a much-quoted promise. A favorite used to encourage people. We forget to whom and when it was given. The leaders of Jerusalem have just been taken into captivity.

Their prophets tell them it will be OK; God will soon rescue them. But God’s message is different. He is not going to rescue them for seventy years —seventy years of captivity. He tells them to build houses, plant gardens, raise children, enjoy grandchildren, and pray for the place where they are captive. They are going to be there for a while. Then He promises, “I know the plans I have for you.”

Tamyra Horst