An Unexpected Path

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43: 19a)

Anyone who has followed me for the last year or two knows that I’ve been clinging to this verse. It’s my go-to when I am discouraged, when I am frustrated, or when I am doubting. God’s promise to do a new thing. To make a way in the desert. Something different from the past.

But, as a friend recently pointed out to me, it is apparent that God had me clinging to that verse for more than one reason…I thought it was solely because I am working hard to make a successful writing career and it is moving slower than molasses. Every time I read that verse, my mind’s eye saw future publications, and next steps that need to be taken, and, mostly, the image of a tiny green plant springing up and me clinging to it in hopes that whatever writing success I wanted would be coming soon.

But my friend was right…God had far more in mind than I did. He had an unexpected turn in my path. Because, come July, Daniel and I will be welcoming a Baby Meredith!

And, before you ask, no, it was not expected. In fact, I have asked God more than once what He was thinking. You see, I had a specific idea of what my life, my future, looked like. I realized it might vary from that, but I figured it would only vary a little. Daniel and I had thoughts and plans for upcoming travel, what our budget should look like, whether (or rather, when) we would move to Florida…and none of those discussions held a child.

And then God showed a different path He wanted us to follow. Intellectually, I am grateful. I know God has a bigger plan for my life than I do. I know that His ways are greater than mine and my life will be far richer following His plan than mine. But emotionally, and humanly, it is hard to adjust my way to His, even – or perhaps especially – when I thought I was already following His path. It can be hard to adjust or set aside plans to make way for the new path, even if His Word promises it will be better.

But that’s okay. It’s okay to take the time needed to adjust plans. To talk to God about how you are feeling. To let Him, and others, hold you as your world turns in a new direction. To give yourself time to embrace that new direction.

Proverbs 21:1 says Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. But it doesn’t follow that the thing you don’t know about may be bad. It may be unexpected. It may require a change in direction, in mindset, and time to adjust, but that doesn’t mean it is bad. And getting ready to welcome a baby boy into my world, planning a nursery, what stories I’m going to read him, and how to make sure he has a firm foundation, both physically and spiritually may end up being just the sort of new thing that I didn’t know I needed.

So, having had a couple months to adjust and see the sunshine on God’s new path, I’ve come to enjoy an excuse to have hot chocolate, burgers, and calories I haven’t indulged in in years…to smile at the thought of a mini-Daniel running around and wreaking havoc with Tennyson’s life…of giggles and coos…of wondering what God plans to do with this unexpected, but most precious life. And that brings me to my biggest issue right now….whether I want to decorate the nursery with trains and cars or dragons and castles. Opinions?