My Plan for Your Future Has Always Been Filled with Hope
March 21
Jeremiah 29:11 “ 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.”
From a very early age, I wanted to be a chiropractor. I have memories as a young child going with my parents to their appointments. I begged to go along and then go into the room where the chiropractor “worked his magic.” My parents always reminded me to sit in the chair and stay out of the way, but I was so interested in what the chiropractor was doing that I would get up close to the table watching him and asking many questions about what he was doing and why. It was fascinating to see the transformation of how my parents felt after leaving the chiropractor’s office. I wanted to be able to help people feel better.
I was certain that being a chiropractor was in my future. I visualized being a successful doctor who was going to help other people feel better. Patients would be lining up to come see me. I was going to have a very successful business - and make a lot of money. My future seemed secure, and no other career appealed to me. There was no doubt what I would do with my life. But, that all changed when I was a junior in high school. Biology and chemistry did not go well for me. I struggled in both classes while at the same time understanding that I would need to take several science-related courses in pre-chiropractic school. Just like that the plans I had for my future changed. Being a chiropractor no longer was going to happen.
My addiction greatly affected my future. For years I was convinced I was in control, did a great job hiding it, and if no one else knew about it then no one would get hurt. Even though I knew there was always a risk of discovery, I continued in the addiction and setting goals and dreams for my future which included my marriage and my children. Whatever plans I had for that future came crashing down because I continued in the addiction which created much chaos and turmoil in my marriage. Although many of the consequences were life-changing and difficult, God promised “to prosper me and not harm me and to give me a future and a hope.” This promise is evident in my life. While it’s not a future and hope that I had created in my mind, I am living in a hope and a future that has been filled with blessing and goodness from my gracious and loving Heavenly Father. What love the Father has for me! He desires to prosper me and not harm me and to give me a future and hope that I don’t deserve.