My Plans, the Future, and Patience

I have always been a planner, always.  There is no doubt about that statement. It is a 100% accurate in every single way. Ever since I can remember, I was planning something. I, the sweet little blonde-blue-eyed girl, would carry a notebook around the house writing down my next plan of action that I created in my head from nowhere. Looking back, I can remember my mom and dad saying, “Lauren, What are you up to?” They could see it in my eyes. My sneaky friends and I would always plan sleepovers and outings before our parents caught on and could stop us.  It was fun and exciting, and I was notorious for doing the “scheming”. If someone could tell that the situation was planned out, then you could most likely count on me behind the plan of action. I was and in fact, I am still very good at that. I guess you could say planning runs in my blood. My organization and planning skills have been my best friend and worst enemy. Birthday Parties, Sleepovers, Proms, Outings, Vacations, Outfits, Daily Routines, Future Weddings (yes, Pintrest has also added to this addiction, but no, I am not a freak. I will discuss this later), the list can go on and on, I have planned to a T.  For example, my birthday is January 31, but December 1 I start talking about my birthday. I know, I know, Go ahead and call me crazy. I map out every detail of the situation at hand until I am satisfied.  In the end, I usually don’t have anything to complain about. As I am a bit older and wiser (hopefully) from the sleepover and birthday party stage, I have gone on to a different stage of planning, my life.  Let me tell you, this scares me to death. How am I suppose to know what is the next step in my life to take?  What is it going to look like? How do I get the details straight? Teachers always ask where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 20 years? Frankly, I don’t know, and I will never know. Hopefully, I will be out of nursing school in five years and getting ready to start my own family.  I dream of having the ideal “American Dream” someday, but to be completely honest, it is impossible to know the details of my future or even of tomorrow. I have so many goals and dreams that I wish to accomplish. Dreams and goals are wonderful, however, plans will and do change. Only God knows what is ahead in my life. Jer. 29:11. I am not perfect (despite my pride would tell you) and I have no authority of what is in the future. So then why is this important?  This is important because the more I discover God’s word the more I realize that He has my back. He is not out to get me, and His plans are the best for me no matter what I think at the current time and situation. Yet, I am still anxious. A very wise teacher once told me that anxiousness is the worry about what is unknown. Fear, on the other hand, is the worry about something that is known.  Wow, that is so true. We say that we are scared and we fear what is going to happen next, but actually we are anxious about what we don’t know. Surprises have never been a thing I enjoy.  I am the type of person that would rather know than not know. Sadly, I struggle with patience in the plan that God has for me. I try to create my own plan.  I am so blessed to have a God that loves and cares for me each and everyday!! I think about who I could be, where I could go, or what I could do without Him… what I come up with is nothing. He is the creator of all things.  So what I need to do is to slow down, listen to what God has to say, and wait for His plan, not mine.  My plans and dreams are great, but God’s are even better! I leave you with two verses that have been on my heart recently. I hope they speak as much truth and hope to you as they did to me.  Until next time, Adios y Dios les bendiga

 Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

Colossians 1:11-14

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^[a] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins