Grow Where You Are Planted

Is everything in your life going according to plan?

If your answer is yes, I have one more question for you. Can you purchase a Powerball lottery ticket for me? You are an abnormally lucky person! But seriously, let’s look at how you can grow where you are planted as we kick persistent discouragement to the curb.

A quick sidebar for the loyal Thyme4Faith readers: I know it’s been many months since my last faith post. But I promise to shed light on my absence as we continue.

How well do you handle discouragement when you encounter life’s disappointments? Marriage, career, raising kids, or health are a few places where things don’t always go as planned.

When this happens, it’s easy to get mired down in an extended season of discontent. But here’s one of the mic drop moments I want to share today.

We need to trade our expectation of perfection for an expectancy in the Provider.

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Expectations vs. Expectancy in God

“Expectation is actually premeditated disappointment…when we create our own perfect scenario, and expect God (or others) to come through for us in exactly the way we want them to, we set ourselves up for disappointment.”

Susie Larson, Your Powerful Prayers

Wow, doesn’t that hit home? Dissatisfaction often takes root when my ideal plans go poof! My daughter, Jessica, has a saying that hits the nail on the head – “I saw this going much differently in my mind.” Yes, dear Jesse, isn’t that true about many things in life?

But what if we set aside preconceived ideas for an expectancy of what God might do?

“To live with expectancy is to repeatedly look above our circumstances,…to cultivate humble contentment in our current circumstances while at the same time tenaciously believing that our prayers matter. The expectant heart passionately believes that any day now, God just might break through.”

Susie Larson, Your Powerful Prayers

Grow Where You Are Planted

For anyone unfamiliar with our scenario, we’ve been living with my husband’s terminal ALS diagnosis for eight years. Our situation is a perfect example of seeing life go much differently in our minds, especially in our retirement years. But as the initial traumatic months turned into years, we embraced a new outlook. We found contentment in Jeremiah’s advice to the Israelites as they settled into captivity in Babylon.

Planted in the role of caregiver, I decided to grab God with both hands and grow in this foreign land. So, through daily devotions and prayers, I’ve been ministering to a Facebook community of caregivers I christened Faith4Caregivers.

My initial expectation was to contribute occasionally. But as I expectantly stayed in tune with the Spirit, a flood of inspiration flowed. I’ve also written, and am now seeking a publisher for my caregiver devotional.

So while I have been slacking on my Thyme4Faith posts, I’ve actually been writing about faith at a frantic pace!

Where Are You Planted?

Where does life find you at this moment? Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, toiling away in the work world, or standing beside a loved one as a caregiver, God can and will use you.

The faith you gain when life takes a left turn is fertile ground for sharing hope with others.

“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.

Jeremiah 29:11

Mike and I have experienced drought and deluge at different times. But as we expectantly reach for God, He faithfully restores us.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me…”I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

Jeremiah 29:13-14 

Prayer

Lord God, while planted in places we don’t always choose, we can elect to grow in the good plans you have prepared. We seek you wholeheartedly and trust you will restore what’s lost when we find ourselves in You.

In Your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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