Better

My sister sent me a song that has seemed like the soundtrack for my life over the last year.

Bryan and Katie Torwalt sing some of the sweetest lyrics to God- lyrics that have captured my heart and often bring me to tears in remembrance of His faithfulness:

Wouldn’t it be like You to be different than we thought,

different than we want,

but better.

Then the bridge says:

Hold on, don’t grow tired,

Don’t give up,

He is better.

These words have been on my heart lately, crossing my mind in the wee hours of the morning when I haven’t quite woken up, but the enemy is already trying to ruin my morning by crushing my hopes related to the deepest desires of my heart. He’ll try to remind me of what I don’t have or question the character of God by creating seeds of doubt.

Instead of believing his lies and the deception of what my limited eyesight can provide, these beautiful lyrics remind me to repeatedly sacrifice my plans and desire God’s plan above my own. The plans I had for my life may not look like I thought they would because His are better.

Over the past few years, everything about my faith walk has required me to come face-to-face with the realization that what I thought would happen pales in comparison to what God has planned.

I asked God to buy me a new, bigger house. My mind never fathomed that He would provide a home my parents could comfortably move into with specific bells and whistles I didn’t think to ask for. Better.

My job had major organizational restructuring and my role was dissolved. Instead of losing my job, I was placed in a new role with a new leader where I am flourishing, learning new things, and being stretched in ways I hadn’t even thought about. Better.

Living life as a single woman has continued longer than I desired but God has allowed me to minister about this season through my writing, achieve major personal accomplishments, serve in my local church, and connect with amazing women of God who fill my cup repeatedly. He has allowed me to build a robust, loving community who has also welcomed my parents with open arms. Better.

While this is all beautiful in hindsight, it can be quite frustrating in the moment. Releasing my idea of control and submitting to God’s plans over my own has taken time, and there are times I still struggle because when I want something, I also craft a plan on how to get it.

But what I’ve learned by walking with God is He does His best work when I surrender my strategy and submit to His way of doing things. He will always have twists and turns that shake up my expectations but they’re for my good and His glory. He’s not a heartless God. There are reasons for what He does, I just may not be privy to it. The same goes for you. He always has your best in mind.

You thought you were going to work in one field, but He sent you to a different one that has been a financial blessing and allowed you to develop new skills.

You thought you were going to buy a house in one area, but He sends you somewhere totally different and the neighbor you end up living next to is a blessing to you and your family.

You thought you would have kids by now, but His plan is for you to adopt and be a blessing to a child but it turns out the child is more of a blessing to you and your spouse.

The examples go on.

Instead of trying to figure it out and becoming besties with fear and anxiety, take His hand and know it will be different than you thought, different than you want  . . . but better.