What Kind of Plans Does He Have?

There was a thirty-something woman in our jail, slight of build with an aristocratic bearing and an articulate manner of speaking, who eagerly came out to help Susan with some office chores.  Anything to get away from the chattering women and sterile walls of the pod!  As she organized and assembled Christian "welcome" packs for new inmates, she talked with Susan about her hopes and dreams. 

Curiously, overriding all the discussion, was a somber, almost fatalistic tone.  It was almost as if she were afraid to even dare to dream anything "too good" for herself.  Could she get married?  Could she stay off of crack?  Could she get some semblance of her career back?  There was a hesitancy that was sad to hear in her voice...almost like what she wasn't saying might be more important than what she was.

Susan decided to probe into the undercurrents of conversation with some encouragement.  "You know, God would never plan for you to be an addict, Marianne.  You are bright, capable, and talented.  There is a much bigger plan out there for your life, if you would just trust in Him to show you the right way...and then go in it."

Marianne looked up with a puzzled, but expectant hope.  "Really?  He hasn't planned for me to be addicted to crack?"

Susan looked horrified and Marianne hastened to explain.  "I mean, I was always told that He has everything planned and that it all happens just the way it is supposed to...so I'm supposed to be here just like this.  I can't understand why God picked this way for my life to go, but who am I to fight it?  If  it's gonna be, then it's gonna be."

"Oh Marianne,"  Susan exclaimed.   "That can't be further from the truth.  God is your loving Creator.  He gave you your looks and your brains and your heart and your abilities.  He gave you his Word and said to walk in His ways.   Of course He has plans for you....but they are plans for good and not for evil.  As you have sinned and gotten off course, He makes a way for you to come back to Him.  He takes the bad things in your life and gives them purpose as you obey Him and strive to serve Him.  He doesn't plan sin....He holds it up to the light so that you can repent of it and then He allows you to show others the comfort that you yourself  have received from Him.  The Marianne that could have been in a perfect world where you had never sinned, might never be...but, the Marianne who submits to the Lord right here today, can become the very best that she can be!"

Her one word reply spoke volumes as any hope that God might really love her now teetered on the brink of this discussion.  "Really?" she breathed.

"It's what I believe with my whole heart,"  Susan replied.

Marianne's shoulders sagged down in relief.  "Oh, that makes me feel so much better," she replied with a hint of a smile.  "Since coming here and talking about the Lord with everyone, I have been so worried about God's plans for me. I didn't know if there was even any point in praying to Him.   I wanted to ask you about it, but didn't even know how to phrase the question.  What do you call it....the concept that God planned for my life to be in shambles like this?"

"A deception of Satan to hold you in bondage to your sin." Susan answered sadly. 

"But," she brightened,    "I can tell you from my own life experience and from the wonderful promises that the Lord gives us, that He can give you the power to live above those lies. You need to forget the past and press on to the great things He has in store for you!"

"Oh Sue,  thank you."  Marianne said clasping her hand enthusiastically.  "Thank you!"