"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*).
My mother remarried when I was fourteen, and we moved to the place where my stepfather worked. It was only eighty kilometers away, but it felt like hundreds because I was leaving the friends with whom I had spent my entire life up to that point. About a year and a half later, my stepfather was transferred to a city three hundred and twenty kilometers away. I was angry because I had to leave my friends again.
As a teenager, I saw nothing good in these moves. However, God's ways are mysterious. Moving from one place to another made me less introverted and made it easier for me to meet new people. I learned to adapt to new environments and deal with changing circumstances.
Now I realize that these qualities have been of great benefit in my life. The Lord has the full picture of our lives, even if we cannot understand something that is happening at the moment. The story of Joseph from Genesis is a wonderful example of this. Although his brothers intended to punish Joseph and harm him, his experience in Egypt served as a great blessing for many, including his own family.
God sees the big picture. Our role is to trust Him.
Link to the original article: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2023-05-12
*Biblical quotes are from the Bible, New Translation from Original Languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013