“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NLT)
If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know that having a son in the military was both a source of pride and a challenge for me. As proud as I was to have a child willing to sacrifice and serve, I still struggled with fear, worry and doubt. This experience became my own sort of spiritual boot camp where God strengthened my faith and taught me the true measure of prayer.
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Many times I felt like I was in a desert with swirling sands blinding my vision of God’s plan. But God is faithful and true to His word. He brought us all through the challenges of that difficult time—stronger than ever before.
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For me, that would have been enough. God, however, offered more. He took that mess of a time and turned it into my ministry. He’s allowed me to stay in the trenches with other military families and encourage them through the tough times.
He’s used my experiences in three books as well as on this blog and in speaking opportunities across the nation. This year, my book of prayer for our military, While My Soldier Serves, was chosen by Cracker Barrel to be featured in their stores throughout the nation to celebrate our military.
The reason I’m sharing this isn’t to toot my own horn. Instead I want to encourage you. Wherever you find yourself, remember that God has a plan. If we’re willing, He’ll use the difficulties, the stresses and even the trials to bless others. He’s a God of great and mighty things. His purposes stretch beyond all we can hope and imagine. So hang on as you wait for the plans He has for you.
