God's Plan

My testing showed high scores in math, science, etc. and very low scores for mechanical aptitude. I had (and continue to have) no interest in mechanical things. I squawked. They said that I could not fix it at the boot camp, but I could fix it at the next duty station. At the next duty station I was told I should have fixed it in boot camp! They gave me a choice; train as a Machinist Mate or go to Federal prison. So, there I was, 6 months into a 6-year enlistment, locked into something I hated. Let me tell you, I was really bitter. I served out the rest of my enlistment like it was a prison sentence. Fortunately, I met Cindy around this time and we were married a year later. I counted the days to getting out so we could "begin our life"

While in the Navy I had the opportunity to go to Engineering Laboratory Technician School. This is the group that does the radiation control and chemistry work for the Navy reactors. It turns out that they only offer this to Machinist's Mates (hmmm?). I took this opportunity in order to make the best of the years remaining. When my enlistment was up the only civilian work I could find was as a radiation protection technician in Oregon. Instead of returning back home to Kentucky, we decided to go for it and moved to Oregon.

I began to car-pool with Bill, one of the other technicians. He played tapes in his car when it was his turn to drive. They were sermon tapes by John MacArthur, a pastor in the L.A. area. As I listened to pastor MacArthur explain the Scriptures (and the gospel!) and as I observed Bill's life I began to question my relationship with God. I became convicted of my sin and asked Bill to explain the differences that I saw in his life as compared to mine. He explained the gospel to me and I received Christ as my savior.

So, you see God gave me what I did not want (what at the time I hated) as part of his plan to give me the greatest gift in the world. Now that I am the civilian nuclear field I love what I do. And, when I see what the guys who worked in the electronics field of the nuclear navy do in the civilian world I find it incredibly boring. I met Cindy by going to the school that I did not want. Cindy came to Christ because of my conversion. From this her Mom, sister and brother came to the Lord. Our three children know Him too.

God taught me a most valuable lesson. We can (and should) make plans with the wisdom God gives us. However, we must realize He is in total control and we can rest in that. His ways are higher than our ways and we frequently do not see what his working involves. But knowing His character allows us to go with these unexpected detours and disappointments with the peace that passes all understanding.

Recently my son Ryan joined the Army with grand plans to be a Special Forces GI Joe. He broke both ankles in training and was subsequently discharged. His plans came crashing down and he has to start all over again. He was bitter about it for several months. The other day he told me he had come to realize that if God is truly sovereign and if He truly loves Ryan as a son then he (Ryan) had no reason to be bitter and just had to trust God for the future. Let me tell you, that was the greatest blessing.

Just when we think we have God's plans figured out He lets us know differently. But even though our plans have to change to meet His sovereign plan we can rest knowing that He NEVER changes, His love is ALWAYS there, UNCONDITIONAL and UNLIMITED.

Some of the greatest growth in our relationship to God comes through trials. As tough as the trials are the rewards are sweet beyond measure.

May God bless you as you go through trials and may your relationship with Him become sweeter still.

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Today's Daily Wisdom is written by Don Flahardy. Today, Don is a nuclear technician at a major power plant. This note was written to his friend Keith Todd who shares it with permission.

Today's Daily Wisdom post was edited by Keith Todd, moderator of theSermon Fodder list which offers Christian humor and modern day parables forenjoyment and for use as sermon illustration material. To subscribe go to http://www.sermonfodder.com or drop an email note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com