2020: the year when all plans changed

The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.. — Deuteronomy 31:8 Letting Go of Plans in 2020 by Kari Kampakis from Love Her Well Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. — Proverbs 19:21 My husband still teases me about my huge wedding notebook from 23 years ago. I'm a planner, you see, and during our engagement I kicked into overdrive. I organized every detail, and as my wedding notebook thickened, my husband began to search for the biggest 3-ring binder possible. He found one at Office Depot— a notebook so large that it cost $25 and grew insanely heavy as I filled it with plans inside. It sounds ridiculous, but truthfully, being a planner has served me well. It served all of us well in the past, especially here in America – the land of overachievers – where planning enables success. Planning lets us juggle 10,000 demands. It makes our homes and lives run smoother. It gives us a track to run on— and offers a false sense of control. Because, as 2020 has proven, our plans can be ripped out from under us. Our plans are subject to God's will and timing. Even the best laid tracks don't guarantee success. Life is far more unpredictable than we like to believe. It is unsettling, isn't it? We have countless decisions to make, yet we can't even plan on a normal school year or a simple trip to the store. We can't look beyond next week. We feel stuck, worried, and scared. Even if we acclimate to uncertainty and brace for more change, we can still have a pit in our stomach that comes from not knowing what curve ball might be next. Will the pandemic get worse? Will my family stay healthy? Are we destined for doom and gloom as the media predicts? Will the chaos and hostility compound as the presidential election approaches? The gravity of the unknown is overwhelming. And thankfully we have God and the unshakeable hope of Christ. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. There is no plan or road map to navigate the challenges of 2020, but God is with us. He isn't surprised or caught off-guard. He has a plan for humanity and each one of us – a plan that can't be thwarted by even the strangest twist of events. As a planner I am learning to make fewer plans. I add a "God willing" to the plans I do make. I've been humbled into a state of surrender and trusting God to work out the details. I'm finding peace in the security of Christ. It feels odd, yet relieving. I have more energy to enjoy the present because I'm not consumed by plans for the future. I feel lighter without the burden of assuming it all depends on me. I've seen God at work in me and my family and so much bonding that has come from our extra time together. At the same time, I crave normalcy. I wish my high school senior daughter could have a traditional senior year. I want all the milestones for her, yet disappointments are likely. There will probably be heartache and tears, yet my plan is to celebrate her no matter what the school year brings. This is her last year at home, and rather than waste it being angry and sad, I want to enjoy her and finish strong. Thankfully, Jesus can bring peace even in chaotic times. He tells us in John 16:33, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. His peace transcends all understanding. It brings comfort when there is no plan. My wedding day notebook symbolized my need to control. It was physically heavy, but more often, it's the plans we build in our mind that are mentally and emotionally heavy. They snowball into expectations of what we think our lives should look like. Sometimes the healthiest choice is to set our plans aside and open our hands to God's present grace. He gives us what we need, and as we rest and trust in that, as we give thanks for our blessings today, we find a peace that transpires circumstances and an intimacy with God that isn't subject to change. Written for Devotionals Daily by Kari Kampakis, author of Love Her Well. Your Turn We have to learn to let go of our plans. Especially now. God's got it all in His capable hands anyway, right? Even if things don't go as we expected or wanted, He still has a beautiful plan! Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you!~ Devotionals Daily COMMENT Share this devotion with someone who needs it today. A Must-Read for Moms of Teenage Girls Save 30% off the new release Love Her Well: 10 Ways to Find Joy and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter by Kari Kampakis Moms are eager for tips and wisdom to help them build strong relationships with their daughters, and Kari Kampakis's Love Her Well gives them ten practical ways to do so, not by changing their daughters but by changing their own thoughts, actions, and mind-set. Softcover Regular: $18.99 Softcover Sale Price: $13.29 ebook price:$9.99 + free U.S. shipping* on orders $30 or more SHOP NOW For many women, having a baby girl is a dream come true. Yet as girls grow up, the narrative of innocence and joy changes to gloom and doom as moms are told, "Just wait until she's a teenager!" and handed a disheartening script that treats a teenage girl's final years at home as solely a season to survive. Author and blogger Kari Kampakis suggests it's time to change the narrative and mind-set that lead moms to parent teen girls with a spirit of defeat, not strength. By improving the foundation, habits, and dynamics of the relationship, mothers can connect with their teen daughters and earn a voice in their lives that allows moms to offer guidance, love, wisdom, and emotional support. As a mom of four daughters (three of whom are teenagers), Kari has learned the hard way that as girls grow up, mothers must grow up too. In Love Her Well, Kari shares ten ways that moms can better connect with their daughters in a challenging season, including: choosing their words and timing carefully, listening and empathizing with her teen's world, seeing the good and loving her for who she is, taking care of themselves and having a support system, and more. This book isn't a guide to help mothers "fix" their daughters or make them behave. Rather, it's about a mom's journey, doing the heart work and legwork necessary to love a teenager while still being a strong, steady parent. Kari explores how every relationship consists of two imperfect sinners, and teenagers gain more respect for their parents when they admit (and learn from) their mistakes, apologize, listen, give grace, and try to understand their teens' point of view. Yes, teenagers need rules and consequences, but without a connected relationship, parents may never gain a significant voice in their lives or be a safe place they long to return to. By admitting her personal failures and prideful mistakes that have hurt her relationships with her teenage daughters, Kari gives mothers hope and reminds them all things are possible through God. By leaning on God, mothers gain the wisdom, guidance, protection, and clarity they need to grow strong relationships with their daughters at every age, especially during the critical teen years. Learn more and save 30% off Kari Kampakis' Books for Teen Girls Save 50% off Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For? Regular: $14.99 Sale Price: $7.50 BUY NOW 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know  Regular: $15.99 Sale Price: $8.00 BUY NOW Have you heard about our fall women's Online Bible Study? Don't miss You Are The Girl for The Job with Jess Connolly September 7th - October 19th  JOIN NOW *Sale prices valid through 8/31/2020, excluding eBooks.  eBooks purchases are fulfilled by our partner, Glose.  Free U.S. shipping on orders $30 or more, excluding Alaska and Hawaii Devotionals Daily ~ our mission is to help you grow and share your faith. Did you receive this message from a friend? Sign up to start receiving Devotionals Daily. Copyright © 2020 HarperCollins Christian Publishing,  All Rights Reserved. 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN  37214  USA Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy *Manage your eMail preferences or unsubscribe

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