A year and a half ago, I would have laughed at you if you told me I'd be where I am today. No, seriously...I would have. I had everything planned out, or so I thought. However, God's plans tend to be drastically different than anything we could ever plan for ourselves. My past isn't something I talk about often, but I feel as though it has definitely gotten me to where I am today. Last March, my high school sweetheart proposed to me. We planned on getting married within a couple of years or so, and I would graduate UAB with a degree in Special Education. Well, the good Lord probably had a nice little laugh at my plans because he had something completely different in mind for my life.
Jeremiah 29:11 says,
"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 a hope and a future."
Slowly, but surely the plans I had made for myself began crumbling. I broke off my engagement because I realized (after every else, of course!) that he was not the man God had planned for me. I knew that I deserved so much more than what he could ever give me. Not long after, I found out that UAB was dropping my major as well. The two biggest plans I had made for myself were all of a sudden tossed out the window. I had no clue what in the world I was going to do next. I felt so alone in this world, even with the many friends and family that I had circling me. It didn't take me long to realize that everything was going to be okay because those were only MY plans....my God had something much better in store for me. I just had to wait on His timing.
By June, I met a guy on Facebook. Like many of you probably are, I was extremely skeptical about beginning a relationship with someone I had met online. I had just heard entirely too many horror stories about online relationships going bad that I was just afraid, but something told me to pursue it anyway. We talked on Facebook for a couple of weeks, then it progressed to texts and phone calls. A month later, it was finally time to meet in person. I was SO nervous, but at the same time I was at peace because I already felt like I knew this guy better than anyone else. After Craig and I met, every doubt I had simply melted away. I knew right off that he was "the one." Where are we today, you ask? Well, we are very much in love. In fact, we just celebrated one year of being together last month. I am so thankful that I didn't settle for anything in my past because I truly know that Craig is the one that God made just for me!
"We love because He first loved us." -1 John 4:19
What about school? Well, God has made a way for that as well. Upon realizing that UAB would be dropping my major, I began researching other schools that offered undergraduate programs for Special Education. I knew, and still do, that I want to spend the rest of my life working with special needs children. I knew that there was no other alternative that would allow me to stay at UAB, even though I was on a scholarship. I just did not see a point in spending two more years there getting a degree that I didn't have a passion for. Anyhow, I realized that the place I needed to be was at the University of Alabama. However, it wasn't quite that easy to just uproot myself and transfer. Would I be closer to Craig? Yes. Would I be able to pursue my dream? Absolutely. Would I be closer to my family? Of course. Would it be cheaper? Absolutely not. And that was the problem. And the fact that I would be leaving my best friend behind at UAB.
I prayed and prayed about it, and my God told me that I needed to go there. Never mind the fact that I would be losing $3000 a semester in scholarships. That's where He told me to go. So I began the process of transferring. And for anybody that has ever had to do that, you know how much of a headache it can be. But you know, I knew that it would all be worth it in the end. I was able to receive student loans from the government with no interest while I am in school; I felt like that was a God send in itself. I applied for transfer student scholarships at UA, but unfortunately there aren't very many of them available. But you know what? It's going to be okay because I know God has everything under control. I am very excited to begin my Special Education classes at UA this fall, and I cannot wait to see what's in store for my life.
I say all of this to say this....God CAN and WILL make a way. Don't consume yourself worrying about the plans you have made for yourself. Just be still and know that He is God. He will show you exactly where you need to be when He gets ready to because He knows what you need more than anyone else in this world. You know why? Because He CREATED you. He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He knows all of your thoughts and dreams.
Sometimes, plans just change. And that's okay.
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