Never Comes Down As Expected

Sandi Patty sings "God Is Walking Me Through" .... The words are: "Never comes down as expected, In sometimes mysterious ways, How my heavenly Father surrounds me, Goes before me, He is there in each moment unfolding every treacherous step I must take as He lights my day." ... The chorus reads: "God is walking me through and making me sing. He's turning my whole world around with the joy that He brings. He's breaking my fall, lifting me up, changing my heart's point of view. God is walking me through." Then the second verse reads: "Peace at the height of confusion, Calm in the worst of my fears .. not a victim to life's circumstances, all the wayward chances, there's a reason for each disappointment ... And a rainbow above every cloud. I will say out loud ... It's ever the same, the pleasure and pain in every life, but count mine as gain to walk in His light."

I remember this song from several years back. In fact, about 15 years ago ... when youngest granddaughter Lauren was 10, she sang this song in a talent presentation for the Southwest Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene (the presentation was at the Anadarko Campground Assembly Hall).

Since then, Lauren and I have talked many times about how "life doesn't come down as expected ... sometimes it is in mysterious ways." I was reminded of that recently when I felt Larry and I needed a few days R & R so to speak. It didn't come down as expected ... like maybe a little trip, etc. Instead, Cathy and Christine needed someone to stay at their 46th Street home and watch Sadie and Libby (their dogs who think they are human) while they were out of town. Larry and I said we would be glad to do that. It was a refreshing time ... we got to enjoy cooking there, watching TV, and using their laptop to keep in touch electronically. Now that wasn't what I necessarily had in mind, but God had a good plan. We didn't have to drive far, we had a nice place to stay, we enjoyed it ... and it provided someone to be there for Sadie and Libby. And guess what, we get to do it again the week between Christmas and New Year's. God always knows just what we need ... In Isaiah 65:24 we read these words. "Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."

Many times when life closes in or we are disappointed, I am reminded that God still has the plan for my life ... and the same God who has brought us this far will lead us the rest of the way home.