Faith Personal

When God’s Plan Doesn’t Sync with Your Plan

by taylorbkeightley

As you may know (or not know) my parents are living in Puerto Lempira, Honduras to serve God and open a boys home called Casa Del Camino (CDC).  To give a little background, their ministry will focus on the home that they have been building for the past four years or so.  It will be home for boys that are 12 years old and older who are or will attend school at Instituto Vida Abundante aka IVA – Life Abundant.  Because La Moskitia is an extremely impoverished area, it has limited, and in most areas, no opportunity for education. IVA is a Christian school that just opened its doors in 2013.  It provides the only free education beyond the sixth grade in all of La Moskitia.  The opportunity for kids to earn an education (and to hear the gospel) is the key to keeping them away from the illegal activities of drug trafficking that are so prevalent in the area.  When my parents learned from the IVA directors that they reluctantly turn away potential students each year because there is no place to house them, it became very evident to my parents that they wanted to serve God through helping these students.

This past July, they left to go to language school and are hoping to open CDC’s doors in December if all goes according to plan (God willing).  With that, my Dad flew up to Portland, OR where my Uncle and his family live.  They live about an hour and a half outside of Portland in Mt. Hood.  My Dad has been planning a motorcycle ride from Oregon to Honduras for a long time and along that route, they (my Dad, Uncle, and a friend named Matt) planned to stop in San Diego for about a day and a half. The plan was for them to arrive on Sunday evening and then would leave Tuesday AM….

They left Friday AM according to plan and made it to the Northern part of California before stopping for the night. They got on the road again for Day 2 on Saturday and they made it to Carson City before my Dad’s engine decided to fail him. My Dad and Uncle Pat pulled into a hardware parking lot to diagnose the issue and drained the oil for my Dad to find a lot of metal shavings on the magnetic oil drain plug (which apparently isn’t a good sign).  He called me Saturday night to inform me of the sad news and obviously I was saddened to hear that my Dad would not be coming as according to plan anymore, but was optimistic just thinking that they would be coming later in the week…

Sunday the bike shop was closed and today, Monday, it reopened but the Ural mechanic was off.  In addition to that, the mechanics in the shop did not sound too optimistic about having my Dad, Uncle, and their friend Matt back on the road any time soon.  Apparently they have had a difficult time getting the parts they need and thought it would be difficult to get my dad’s bike fixed this week…

Not to mention a category 5 hurricane is hitting Mexico right now. After my Dad, Uncle Pat, and Matt were scheduled to pass through San Diego, they were going to be driving through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Gratefully, all this happened in the U.S. where they have the resources to get his bike fixed and aren’t stranded somewhere in one of those countries or in the middle of a hurricane.  Obviously everything happens for a reason…

Now in the midst of all this, it has really been testing my faith.  If you know me, I am a planner.  Big time! It is really hard for me when I don’t know the plan or when things don’t go according to plan.  It has been hard for me having to wait to receive a text or call from my Dad or Uncle Pat about any update, especially while working since I want to make plans to see them.  This experience has tested my patients and how I deal with facing the unknown and not knowing what comes next.  I know that the Bible says “not to worry about tomorrow” and trust God’s timing (Matthew 6:34) but sometimes that is easier said than done.

I have been repeating Paul’s encouragement in Phillipians 4:6-7 (and also happens to be one of my favorite verses):

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Phillipians 4:6-7 English Standard Version (ESV).

So when we get down to the core of this, I have listed a few things that have helped me be more patient while waiting on God’s timing:

  1. Pray. A LOT.
    • The number one way to find more patience while you are stuck in the waiting game is to pray. Pray and then pray some more. It is not always easy to go to prayer first when you are waiting, but when you’re frustrated in the wait, you will develop this habit of prayer and you will find that the waiting becomes easier. (Phillipians 4:6-7)
  2. Read your Bible
    • Staying in scripture keeps you grounded in God’s plans and promises. Often when we are stuck waiting, it is a season of preparation for something that is to come in your life.  When you are also in God’s word or the season of waiting, you will be reminded of his faithfulness to us here on earth and provide a sense of hope when you feel hopeless.  (Romans 15:4)
  3. Surrender to the Process
    • Change takes time…we all know that.  And we may not always like the change or be comfortable with it.  But when God is working in our life, change will not happen over night.  We need to let go of our attempts to control and allow God to lead. (Psalm 37:7)
  4. Lessons Being Taught While Waiting
    • What is the purpose in the waiting game?  What is God doing in your heart to prepare you?  What can you learn in this season? (Romans 5:3-5)
  5. Focus on the Blessings
    • Try and find joy and blessings where you are. Even when you’re waiting may be dark and stormy, be diligent about looking for the blessings that are being set forth ahead. How can you be a blessing in other people’s lives? (Phillipians 4:8)

Above all, we have to remember to be full of praise and thanksgiving no matter what you are waiting for or season you are in currently. Further, if you would like to see my parent’s missionary page to learn more or even donate (remember it’s a tax write off), click here.  If you would like to subscribe and follow along with my Dad’s blog, you can also do so here.

xoxo,

T