When life gets in the way

It was nearing the Christmas holidays. Jackie had big plans. She, for sure, started on things in time. But it seemed every Christmas, something happened to one of the family automobiles or another inconvenience happened.

Jackie couldn't understand why all these, seemingly, catastrophes happened when she already had a lot to do. "Why?" she asked herself. Jackie always believed everything occurs for a reason and God is at the helm. Still, she was puzzled.

This particular year, as she was preparing for Christmas events which included the family, someone hit her car. It was a total loss. So with everyone arriving, she had only one car. Usually someone needed an extra vehicle to use during their stay.

As if that were not reason enough to sigh and stress, the furnace in the basement of the family home failed to heat and made a shattering noise. One wondered if the whole house would explode. Multiple trips were made by the heating and air-conditioning company. Again, Jackie asked, "Why? Why now?" when she had so little time and so much to do.

Some of Jackie's close relatives were severely ill, too -- right here at Christmas! "Oh well," she murmured. "I'll just do my best and hope all turns out well." Sure enough, everything went well and everyone seemed to have a great time.

New Year's Eve was next on the agenda. Jackie and her husband gladly spent the evening relaxing at home with a wine toast to end the old year and bring in the new.

Despite how much you plan and strive to make your plans turn out, life does get in the way. It's like you're swimming backward in a forward-flowing stream. You take two strokes ahead and three back. You splash and choke, rise and fall. But you keep going. Finally you arrive at shore. Your chest rises and falls and you count your blessings that you're still alive and no real damage is done.

Although Jackie's holiday trials were frustrating and scary, she thanked God she still felt good physically and mentally, and the inconvenient happenings she endured were actually so small in comparison with life and death issues. Jackie knew God was with her constantly and things were as they should be -- that those situations were to serve a purpose. Yes, life gets in the way of our desires, our likes and dislikes. Or maybe our plans get in the way of life. Even though you don't understand why life turns out as you think it should, listen to what Isaiah 55:8 says: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord."

Life constantly changes. Many take pride in the fact they like their routine and never want to leave their homes. But if you're to meet life head on, you must move with the flow. Those who refuse to make changes in their comfort level are the ones who complain and keep themselves miserable.

Have you ever traveled down a stream, a river or even a pond, looking over to the side? You often see debris hovering around a tree stump, a rock or a branch that is caught. Moss, tree limbs and other trash accumulates. It stays trapped. It doesn't change or move; it rots! Yet you see other loose limbs traveling downstream, airy and free, laughing and dancing and bounding forward, rather than staying stuck somewhere. So it is with life.

When circumstances seem to be going wrong, you're stuck where you don't want to be, and nothing turns out as you think it ought, keep plugging along. If your plans are to materialize, they will. Jeremiah 29:11 tells you: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'" God only knows if our plans get in the way or if life does.