According To Plan

Written by Dorothy Brown

by Helen Lescheid

**Check this site and see how one can escape the root of bitterness: http://thelife.com/study/escaperootbitterness.html?section=escaperootbitterness

“For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works and that I know very well” (Psalm 139: 13,14).

Three days ago I witnessed the birth of my grandchild. Soon after her birth, I unwrapped the blanket and checked fingers and toes, the size of her head, the state of her back. (After all, I have worked as a nurse in an IC nursery!) But Kaari’s body was perfect. When she opened her big blue eyes and studied her mother and father’s face, we knew that she was not only perfect, but intelligent as well. “What a miracle,” we kept saying. It was easy to believe that this beautiful little person was a handiwork of God.

But what about all the other babies I had seen in the ICU with serious problems? Are they also carefully designed by God? Does God have a special plan for them as well?

I believe He does. For instance, one of my friends was born with brittle bones. An enzyme needed for proper bone development was lacking in her body. Consequently, at birth her little legs were broken in several places and they hung like limp sausages. By the time Marilyn was five years old, she’d had multiple breaks and more than twenty surgeries. Doctors set broken bones and inserted steel pins to strengthen her limbs and spine. Marilyn has been confined to a wheelchair most of her 42-year life span. She’s just over four feet tall.

Still, Marilyn’s attitude couldn’t be brighter.“I thank God for my awesome life,” she says. “All of us have challenges; mine just happen to be more visible. With God’s help we can master our challenges and reach for our dreams.” And she has done so. She lives in a beautiful apartment with her best friend Sylvia, who also has brittle bones. They share a wonderful prayer and speaking ministry. “Our wheelchairs are a blessing,” she says. “They give us a platform to reach people that able-bodied persons can’t reach.”

~Father, I love You. Thank You for making me, not haphazardly, but according to a beautiful plan and with a purposeful life in mind. I want this day to be a blessing to myself and to others.

Questions to ponder: What challenges are you facing today? How can you make that difficulty a platform for blessing?

About the Author
This devotional was written by Helen Lescheid. Learn more about Helen: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/helen-lescheid/

8 Responses to “According To Plan”

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Fran D. says:

June 21, 2007 at 9:55 am

Kim, just prayed for you and know everyone who reads here will do that, too. These are faithful prayer warriors! Thank you for sharing this..Your amazing faith and trust in HIS Word are going to bless all who read this special comment! God Bless You and your husband! What an amazing girl you are that you still serve by volunteering..You are an example and inspiration to the rest of us of what is possible with the Lord! (((((((Kim)))))))
Kim says:

June 21, 2007 at 9:10 am

I am 41 and have cerebral palsy. I have had to quit working and now ues a walker. I am trying to volunteer and keep our home up as well as I can. My husband has cerebral palsy also but is more moble than I am and still works. I trust that God’s plans for us are good because His Word promises that.
Shawn says:

June 20, 2007 at 4:44 am

Chris – your response really touched my heart. I am 52 years old and have suffered with depression on and off for almost my entire life. I have a tremendous amount of family history of depression. Anyway, my heart goes out to you this a.m. I know how hard it is sometimes to just get out of bed. Unless you have experienced major depression, it is hard to understand and this can be frustrating. It may not be a physical limitation, but a mental limitation is also very difficult. Just wanted you to know that I am praying for you today — God is our great comforter and encourager. I pray that you are blessed with both of these today. You are not alone and you are very loved!
Linette says:

June 18, 2007 at 3:39 pm

I am 41. I am facing some difficulties related to traits from birth. Scoliosis and deformed disc and vertebrae. I am the mother of a miracle baby. Now she is five. I am having a hard time focusing on what positive things i will be able to do with my life. I guess it would be nice to talk to someone who is having something in common.
Fran D. says:

June 18, 2007 at 9:39 am

Thank ALL of you for these uplifting and beautiful comments..For Chris and Barbara’s honesty..and, Barbara, you have counseling skills as well as being a terrific writer!..Am convinced that you are working for our Heavenly Father at this juncture in your life. Your great encouragement, just now to Chris, beautiful…And, Dianne, you taught us about both sides of situations like this..and how important a “caregivers” role is in this life. May the dear Lord call those reading this that have that special gifts in that way to be used! Your willingness to share all sides of this issue has helped many this day!

Believing for Chris and joining the powerful prayers of others reading today in uplifting her! Barbara is right..We do fight a spiritual warfare every day..and with HIS loving guidance, we will win, too! Love all of you! and am humbeled to be a small part of this blog!
Dianne says:

June 18, 2007 at 7:15 am

I think about this matter from time to time. I was born with a number of defects, but all of them minor enough that they are not readily obvious, so my challenges mystify and frustrate those around me.

As I age, my several of my defects have become more pronounced and they cause pain and/or more inconvenience–and I’m only in my 40′s! It scares me a little to think about how bad they might be when I’m in my 70′s or 80′s.

I seem to have unfairly inherited most of both of my parents’ unhealthy conditions/diseases–me more than my brothers did–as if all their bad DNA got together and said, “Hey, let’s go in on this one together!”

Mostly mild in and of themselves, collectively these conditions negatively affect my life in many ways. So, sometimes (about 80% of the time) I feel frustrated and sorry for myself about this. The rest of the time I think, “My cup is half full.” and I have been given compassion for other ‘misfits’ because of this. This is a good thing. This is a gift from God.” Being in these shoes is no fun. Its blessings can be great if I let them be.

I don’t remember who it was that first told me this, but for every person who needs to be taken care of by others, there is a spiritual blessing for those doing the caring–a long as they are willing to accept it.

Sometimes a person who is dependent on others for their care feels “useless,” or without purpose. But what a purpose! To give the opportunity of being of love and service to another human being by needing to be helped is a spiritual gift–worth more than money.

Jesus knew this. Jesus taught this. Jesus lived this.
Barbara says:

June 18, 2007 at 6:27 am

Questions to ponder: What challenges are you facing today? How can you make that difficulty a platform for blessing?

When I read the above question to ponder today it allowed me to realize that God is Great and that he is working in my life. Before reading the devational, I wrote in my prayer journal for God’s will to be done in my life today and that Thy Holy Spirit will enable me to complete the things that need to get taken care of.

The biggest difficulty that I am facing today is the fact that I am still on Disability and have no job to go to becuase of such. However, I have been choosing to make the best of my circumstances and have been working on a book that I beleive will help out other hurting souls. I may have certain limitations but with the power of my all mighty God, I can accopmlish the things that he so desrires for me to do.

Barbara

TO: Chris – I pray that The Lord will see you through this day. Keep in mind that depressed feelings are of satan and he is trying to keep you down. Pray to the Father to lift your spirit up so that you can be all that you can today. Even if it means that you only accomplish one important thing this God given day. The worst thing to do is to stay in bed and pull the covers over your head. I pray dear sister that you get up and arise to this new day that God has given you and allow the Joy of the Lord to be your streangth. Amen
Chris says:

June 18, 2007 at 3:31 am

TODAY IS ONE OF MY NOT SO GOOD DAYS. I AM DEPRESSED,WISHING,I COULD STAY IN BED. WON’T I HAVE THINGS TO DO, TO GO TO AND TO CHECK ON. AS LONG IT IS IN GODS PLANNS FOR ME
GOD HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH TODAY IN ONE PEACE
THE WILL BE DONE