Time with God - Week 3, Day 2

Day 2: Soul Surfer, Part 2 (God's Plan)

Today we are going to look at how Bethany overcame losing one of her arms by continuing to trust in God's plan for her life. She said,

"My plans to be a professional surfer got hit pretty hard on that October morning [of the shark attack]. It was my own personal tsunami. In the days, weeks, and months that followed, I had a lot of work to do. Often, it was scary or trying. And I won't lie to you: in some ways, it still is. I've worked really hard to become a pro surfer and am now competing with the best women surfers in the world. But for me, knowing that God loves me and that He has a plan for my life, that no shark can take away and no contest result can shake, is like having solid rock underneath me. Bad things are bound to happen to everyone. That's life. Here's my advice: don't put all your hope and faith into something that could suddenly and easily disappear. And honestly, that's almost anything. The only thing that will never go away, that will never fail you, is God and your faith in Him. All I can say is He gives me a really strong foundation for everything I do in life."

Life will knock you down again and again. Many things will happen to you or to someone you care about, and it will make no sense to you at all. There are a lot of things that have happened in my life that make no sense to me.

• My oldest brother died of brain cancer at the age of 5.
• My oldest sister was in a terrible car wreck when she was 18 that left her mentally disabled.
• My other brother died in a motorcycle accident.

The list goes on and on. Sometimes, I wonder if God is really in control. Why don't You do something about this? When I find myself feeling that way, I try not to focus on what I don't know because we are never going to get some answers on this side of eternity. Rather than focusing on what I don't know, I try to focus on what I do know. And what do I know?

• I know God loves me so much He sent His son to die in my place and pay the ultimate price for my sin and my rebellion.
• I know that God never wastes pain. I know that He has a purpose even though many times I don't understand it.
• I know that God is going to carry me through this difficult time.
• I know that God can be trusted with not only my eternity but also with my today.

I cling to Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

One of Bethany's favorite Bible verses – Jeremiah 29:11.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

No matter what has happened or what will happen, you can trust that God does have a plan for your future that is full of hope. Choose Him. Trust Him. Hold on to what you do know and trust Him with what you don't know. He will never leave you or forsake you.

Time Out
Look up the following verses and write down a few more promises that God makes to you.
Romans 8:38-39
Isaiah 40:28-31
1 Peter 5:7

Take a few moments and tell God you trust Him even when life makes no sense at all. Thank Him for the fact that He will always be by your side, giving you the strength to make it through another day.