The Deal Breaker: Seeing God’s Hand in the Nevers of Life

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
    and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV

I have a bad habit of saying never.

I will never marry a doctor…

I will never go to a Baptist church…

I will never move to Fort Smith…

I will never use fertility treatments…

I will never work with fifth and sixth graders…

And in all these nevers God had a different plan – a better plan. I wonder if God chuckles at my deal breakers knowing His plan will prevail?

I uttered these nevers in all the wisdom I had at the time.

I was not interested in a doctor, I was an ICU nurse after all.

Baptists are judgmental…I get the irony and now I am a member of a Baptist church.

Who ever heard of Fort Smith?!? We’ve lived here for nearly 14 years.

Why wouldn’t someone just adopt instead of using fertility treatments? Now I know why and have two of my three precious kiddos because of these treatments.

Fifth and sixth graders?!? They are great, but not for me…My husband and I taught Sunday school for fifth and sixth graders for about six years.

Deal-breakers were just my way of telling God I had a plan for my life and He didn’t need to worry about it and I didn’t have to trust Him. I just trusted in my plan.

But life is full of curves and bumps and mountains and valleys. Things I could not know or see or understand. On this side of so many nevers that came to pass I can look back and truly say God’s way is better.

I would never trade my doctor husband, my church, my town, working with fifth and sixth graders, or even my struggle with infertility for the life I planned. All of it has worked together to help me know God better, to learn to trust Him.

And oh to trust God in the bumps and curves in life.

Father God, forgive me for failing to trust in You. Help me to remember that Your ways are best even when I don’t understand, when I’m frustrated, or hurting. Help me to trust that You will be there guiding me, strengthening me, healing me (either this side of heaven or the other). Lord I long to trust You in everything and lay down all my nevers. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.