“Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.” Hymn “Trust and Obey” by John H. Sammis, 1887

Sometimes life doesn’t quite go the way we plan. In fact, most of the time life doesn’t go as we plan. We try to take control of situations and steer them to our advantage, but, more often than not, the end result is not what we desire.

A dear friend of mine needed a new car. The repair of her present vehicle would cost a couple thousand dollars, much more than her budget allowed. She didn’t need anything fancy, just a reliable car. So, her son-in-law searched local car auctions for possibilities. He found and purchased a 206 Audi. This immaculate car, complete with heated leather seats, and all the amenities an Audi offers ran perfectly. Upon learning of this purchase, my friend exclaimed, “No, no, no! This isn’t right! This is all wrong! I don’t need an Audi!”

Ah!… but this was the car God wanted her to have. You see, this very fancy car cost only $1582 and was exactly what she needed. God blessed her with a most luxurious and dependable vehicle. She might not have planned for an Audi, but that’s what God blessed her with.

Last year my dog died. I was devastated. I cried every day and thought my grief would never end. Months later it was time to find another shelter dog. A young pooch on the Internet looked like a good match, so we arranged a meeting. However, when we arrived at the home, the dog was sick with kennel cough, smaller than listed on the website, and not at all the dog I envisioned. Even though the dog cuddled up to me immediately, I was not persuaded. Hoping my husband would agree, I looked at him pleadingly and asked, “What do you think?”
Feeling sorry for this little dog, he replied, “I think we should take him.”I stared at him incredulously.
I wanted to yell, “No, no, no! This isn’t right! This is all wrong!”
I tried to figure out a way to leave without this dog, but I really couldn’t wrangle a way – this dog was sick and needed a home. So, with a bit of a frown on my face and many apprehensions, we took this little pooch home.

After a few weeks, our new dog perked up. He was lively, inquisitive, and full of love– he was perfect. My vet assured me that the dog wouldn’t grow any larger, but that was OK. This was the right dog for me, even though I didn’t know it when I first saw him. This dog is a gift from God. I would never have picked this dog, but God could and did. I am so thankful and so blessed.

Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we plan, but, if we trust in our Lord and Savior, life can be better than planned!

“For I know the plans I have for you… plans for good and not for disaster.” Jeremiah 20:11

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. “ Psalm 9:10

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:4

By Little Pilgram