I was anxious for this summer. The possibility of serving at a Christian camp for kids was something I was looking forward to all year. I turned in the application, emailed back and forth with the director and nailed the interview. Why wouldn't I get the position?
There was something I had never factored into the equation. I was ecstatic to be serving the Lord through this opportunity, but I had never asked him if this is what he wanted for me. I figured that if things were going this smoothly and I felt so good about it, then it must be what he wants me to do, right? The day came and it turned out that I didn't get the job.
I was beyond confused and hurt that I wasn't picked out of the applicants. Continually I was told that it must mean that "God has bigger plans for me" or that "I should trust His decisions and paths." After hearing that enough many times, I got annoyed and realized I didn't even understand what that meant. All I knew was that God didn't let me have what I wanted and it stunk!
I had heard Jeremiah 29:11 more times than I could count. The context of that verse though is not something that is talked about a lot. Verse 10 says
"When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place."
It then talks about God knowing the plans He has for us in verse 11. Think about that. Seventy years the people of Israel suffered things many trials that were unpleasant and they definitely didn't always get what they wanted. According to verse 13, we will only find the Lord when we seek him with all our heart. Sometimes I believe we seek the opportunity with all of our hearts, but not the Creator of that opportunity.
My friends and family were right in saying that God has big plans for me, but what they should've included was that the plans might not come this summer or even the next summer. Sometimes God is saying no because that opportunity is not for you. It is for someone else instead. If you truly want the kingdom of God to be furthered, then you will accept that God put them there for a reason and that it's not your season.
Trust me, fellow followers, that it is easier said than done. Slowly, God's plans for your life will be revealed for you and you will find the most immense joy that you have ever known. You will be grateful that God is the one in control and you will realize that God saying no was the best thing that could have happened to you.