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Circumstances That Bludgeon Us Into Insensibility


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)
          It’s been a difficult couple of weeks. I’ve said before that I know God will not let me miss the next exit. I’ve also said that in spite of all the heart ache, I know God is good. But I’m weary at the moment, so I am thinking about this verse. Technically, God made this promise to Israel. Also, technically, He has fulfilled it in my life. It doesn’t matter how big a nightmare the next several decades are, because it’s a small thing compared to eternity. I’m still convinced that God will provide all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 
         I still know all these things. I know that it won’t last forever. I know that a nap after lunch will do wonders. But today is an attitude check day, and my attitude is worse than it should be. I’m focused on the troubles, the aches, the weariness, and I need to focus elsewhere. I need to focus on Him and what He is doing. 
         I’ve said before, this summer isn’t going the way it was supposed to. I wasn’t going to garden. If anything got done around the house other than caring for Dad and writing, it was supposed to be done inside the house. I didn’t know what, but my logic was simple: stuff done to improve the inside of the house would make life better for me. The outside could wait. 
          As you probably know, that wasn’t God’s plan. For years, I dreamed of having a tree in both sides of the front yard. For not quite so many years, I’ve dreamed of having service berries, or some other berry that birds like in my front yard. I’ve also thought about having an herb garden along the foundation in front. This summer, I got all but the last, and the way has been cleared for the last. 
         I’ve wanted trees in the back yard, and a fence to keep the dog in the yard. I’ve wanted to build a little garden sitting area behind the garage. I love the idea of having free food, which is why I put myself through the torture of planting a garden every year. 
          I’m actually hating writing what I’ve just written, because I feel like I’m bragging. That’s not what I want to do. But in the midst of things not being the way they’re “supposed to be” and near the center of the chaos that swirls round us, and sometimes as part of the chaos, God blesses. In spite of the fact that it often feels like I’m doing nothing of value, God is bringing about something of value. In the case of my crab apple tree, even in spite of my whims, He’s blessing. But if He hadn’t done it the way He did it, I would probably never have noticed. 
         Lord, help us to notice the blessings You give us. Open our eyes to see Your hand, and to recognize the beauty and blessing you give us even in the middle of circumstances that bludgeon us into insensibility.

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