“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not harm, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
“I know the plans I want from you, Lord” says Me. “They are plans full of predictability, laced with comfort, and void of disappointments.” 1st Self 3:16
Lord Jesus, you know this, but I need to remind myself. There’s a little plaque in close proximity to our kitchen sink with four words written on it. “In Acceptance Lieth Peace”—the title and last line from a poem by Amy Carmichael. This amazing Irish-woman was captured by a vision of your unparalleled beauty, your great joy in redeeming an every-nation Bride for yourself, and your utter trustworthiness in every circumstance, storm, and hardship of life.
That included—as a missionary to the poorest of the poor in India, learning to love, trust, and serve you after a bad fall left her an “invalid” for 20 years. “Invalid”… what an odd word to describe utter weakness, total dependence—and for Amy Carmichael, the peace of acceptance. I don’t know of any life anywhere anytime that was more “valid.”
Jesus, your plans for us are good even when they’re not easy. Our future is pregnant with hope, and nothing else. The heck with 20 years, sometimes I start whining after 20 minutes of inconvenience. Free me and my friends to see more and more of your beauty, in every season and circumstance of life.
Grant us grace to trust your heart when we don’t understand your hand. Our greatest peace is grounded in and fueled by your acceptance of us—your astonishing love and great delight in us. So Very Amen.
