"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah
29:11 NIV)
I was a Sophomore in High School and I dreamed of being a football star.
During my Freshman year I had been a skinny and scrawny boy who barely
weighed 120 pounds. I had played some but spent most of my time on the
bench. But over the Summer I had planned to change that. I had bought a
set of free weights and found a special diet that body builders used to bulk
up. Drinking a lot of whole milk and lifting weights every day had added an
extra 25
pounds of muscle to my frame. By the time football season started I felt
ready. I was soon disappointed, though, when I saw that I was still
smaller, slower, and less athletic than most of the other boys. I found
myself on the bench again.
That was to change during one of our first games of the season. We had
built up a lead and the coach felt secure enough to send me in for a while
to play halfback. I was so excited. I was so ready to prove myself. On
the very first play I got the call. The center snapped the ball to the
quarterback who handed off to me. Our offensive line opened a huge hole and
I ran towards it. Dreams of scoring a touchdown and being a hero raced
through my head. God had other plans, however. The hole quickly closed and
I found myself being hit by two linebackers and a safety. They crashed me
to the ground hard. I got up woozily and walked off the field and back to
the bench.
Over the years I have lost count of how many times I have schemed, dreamed,
and prayed for something in my life only to find out that God had other
plans. For a long time I really resented this, but as the years went by I
finally realized that maybe just maybe God’s plans for me were better than
my plans for myself.
There is an old Yiddish Proverb that goes “Man plans and God laughs.” Maybe
it is time that we stop planning so much and join in the laughter. God
loves us all so much. Shouldn’t we all then seek to find out His plans for
us instead of always forcing our plans on Him? Open your heart today to
God’s love, God’s wisdom, and God’s plans for you. Let His light guide you
as you go through each day and you will fill your life with love, kindness,
and joy. What better plan could there be than that?
Joseph J. Mazzella
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.