“How is this part of God’s plan?”

Have you ever asked yourself or someone else; “How is this part of God’s plan?” after tragedy in your life? I know I have, I questions God’s plans for me all the time, probably at least daily. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” But if this is true as all of God’s word is then why do we experience disaster?

Tonight I watched one of my favorite movies; Soul Surfer, based on the true life story of pro surfer Bethany Hamilton. If you haven’t seen it, watch it immediately after reading this blog. Every time I watch it I learn something new about Bethany, life, and God’s plan for us.

On this special occasion God used Bethany and this movie to help three people in recovery and myself to see that we can overcome adversity if we believe and persevere. I also found the answer to the question “How is this part of God’s plan?”

Being of the human species we are selfish, self-absorbed, and have a desire to want the best for ourselves. We do not want to experience disaster, tragedy, pain, hurt, heartache, or any form of lowness. When we ask the question it is because we are looking for a selfish answer, why would a loving God do this to me? The real answer is, it is not about you, it’s about Him. God uses tragedy to bring us closer to Him but also to bring us closer to each other. When Bethany lost her arm she asked WHY? How is this part of His plan? The answer came when she stopped focusing on herself and focused on the young boy in Thailand. Bethany’s loss was not part of God’s plan for her; it was part of His plan for others. The boy on the mission trip, the hundreds of people she encouraged by trying despite failure in the region surf championships, and her family.

So often we think when something bad happens it didn’t come from God because of his promise in Jeremiah, but all things even the trials can bring Him Glory. While I love the Jeremiah verse I enjoy so much more James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

So instead of asking why, or how is this part of a loving God’s plan, I challenge you to ask yourself how can I use this to bring Him glory and help others. If Jesus taught us anything, it is that love is not selfish. The most horrific tragedy in humankind was to kill our Savior on the Cross, and while even Jesus asked His Daddy; Why? (Matthew 27:46), the answer was right there…. “It’s not for you, it’s for them” 

Give it your all

I do not like running! Three years ago I competed in my first 5k race because I told my kids I would. I started off the race running as hard as I could like I thought everyone else was doing not realizing that 3.1 miles is ahella long way. About 3 blocks in I was out of gas. I wanted to quit right there. At the one mile mark after going up one of the sickest hills in town I knew I could not finish this stupid race. At the 1.5 mile turn around two women, HEROS, came back to where I was at when I totally gave up and said, “No man left behind, you are gonna finish.” We walked slow, stopped a couple times, and just to show me I could they even made me jog a little bit here and there. By the time I was half a mile from the finish line, my son and all his friends came back to walk along side and even behind me. I DID IT! I finished my first 5k and I hated it. I even received a metal for 3^rd place in my age group despite finishing the race dead last, guess how many were in my age group.

Since then I have completed in numerous races and fun runs, still not liking running and usually walking most of the 5k but finishing every one. Again I don’t do these because I like them, I do them for a much bigger reason. I learned in my first 5k that I could accomplish things that I worked hard at and had the right support to do. I have since completed one college degree and in a few months will receive my second. I have found a career path that I would have never been able to get into on my own but through hard work and encouragement I have been blessed. I have become a calmer person, a better father, a more caring husband, and a nicer friend. These races have not changed my mind about running but they have changed my heart about give it my all.

This morning as I write this I wonder if I have given it my all, have I given my  training for each race my all, have I put my all into my school work, have I given it all to my Daddy, God, who has given everything to me? I can honestly say NO but I am training to do so and it all starts with one race. Getting ready for the Haslanger Classic in 10 days where it all began and its training time.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

Can you believe that?

Many people know God, or of Him. But here is the hard question, do you believe God is who He says He is?

God is omniscience; all-knowing

God is omnipresence; all-present and all seeing

God is omnipotence; all-power

OK so that clears it up, right?

In Job 21:22 we see that no one can teach God, “Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?” And in Isaiah 40:13-14 we find out that God needed no one to create for He created everything in His own knowledge. No counsel, committees, rocket scientists, or gurus were needed for God for He knew how to do everything. Can you believe that?

Psalm 139:7-12 tells us that God is with us in Heaven, and on Earth, in every dark corner, or every well lit up church. God is with us when we sit in a bar, when we go for a walk, and when we yell at our wife or kids. In Jeremiah 23:23-24 we read "Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "And not a God far off? “Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD.” God is watching us everywhere because He is always there. Can you believe that?

Matthew 19:26 says; “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” With God’s power all things are possible. Just check out Luke 1:37. Luke lays it down just as simple by saying, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Can you believe that?

So here is the challenge, we know God and even who He is but I suspect, myself included, that at times we don’t believe He is who He says He is. So if God is all-knowing, today have no fear or anxiety because God knows what’s best for you, just follow His lead. And if God is always watching and present, don’t feel lonely or depressed because a simple prayer can offer a huge bear hug from arms that circle everything. And since God is all powerful go for your dreams. If they are rooted in a faith and belief in Him and you give the glory and honor to Him where it belongs, you can’t fail because NOTHING is impossible with God. Believe that!

Journey

Life is a journey, whether it is a couple seconds long or a century in the making, everyone travels. Today I watched our oldest son get his high school diploma and it makes me abundantly joyful that he did not struggle to the last minute to get his like I did.

While Dan is not my son by blood, he is my son by love and I am proud to call him my son. In the past five years I have watched him grow from a moody boy into a scholar and a gentleman. He carries himself with style, dignity, and grace. I can only pray that I had a small part in making him that man, one I appreciate because he’s going on to amazing things.

When I was his age trouble found me, liked hanging out with me, and even helped me a time or two. But Dan is different, a sharp mind, a joyful heart, and a will to work hard will take him very far as we prepare to send him off to UW-Oshkosh.

They say it is not the destination but the journey that takes you there. Dan has changed my road, helped me become a better man, husband, and father, and made the journey every bit as joyful as possible.

We have four amazing children to go through this with and I pray that each of them see that as we travel through life, each moment we share with them, and they with us, good or bad is something that makes an imprint in our hearts forever.

Dan I am so proud of you and very excited because I know this is merely the beginning of your journey. 

 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

                                                                                                                                Proverbs 22:6