Blossom Abundantly

When we were all a bit younger and first began to dream of our futures, we had all of our life plans mapped out. We knew exactly where we would attend college and what our dream job would be. We made lists of the qualities our mate would possess. We dreamed of the children we would have, when we would have them, and what we would name them. We knew how many grandkids would run around at family functions. And, we had planned for that house on the beach for retirement. At least I planned for the beach house!

Well...you get the picture. Yes, it's important to dream. To plan. To look ahead. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs tells us.  Of utmost importance is to seek the Lord's plans and see where He is working. Ask Him what we should do...or not do. When we listen, He gives us guidance through His Word, through Godly people, and the nudging of the Holy Spirit.

Sounds easy. Right? Just follow the steps. One. Two. Three. Hmmm. Not really. You see, we head down those paths...the ones that we are so sure the Lord has directed us to follow, and somehow...sometimes suddenly...things don't go like they were supposed to. "Wait. What's going on here God? This isn't what I...errr, I mean, we planned. This isn't my dream. This isn't the way it was supposed to happen."

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
 the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing."
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭35:1-2‬ a ESV‬‬

If you're like me, you stop and say "OK, Lord. What now?" In James it tells us "if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God". It goes on to say that He gives generously...lavishly...abundantly...and that the wisdom we ask for will be given to us.

What I've come to realize is that even though it seems as if I might be in the middle of what the world around me would characterize as a desert, my life can still bloom for Him. My life may not look like I had planned.  I may not be where I thought I would be or doing what I thought that God had planned for me.

However, He has allowed me to be in this place...and He is still with me. The surroundings may look a bit different than I imagined and originally dreamed, but I can still blossom. And even blossom...abundantly.