Last updated on August 28, 2023
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
1 Corinthians 13:12
Even though I don’t know my future, I will sleep well tonight. If I were a betting woman, I’d make two predictions. I won’t win a million dollars in the lottery (I don’t play), and I will never be President. You couldn’t pay me enough for that job. (My older daughter used to tell me I’d make an excellent President—before I became dumb during her teenage years. Fortunately, I have become smart again since she turned twenty-one).
Now, I get to be dumb again as my second daughter enters that age of smartness. At least I know what to expect the second time around. Admittedly, I look forward to the day I’m smart again unless dementia sets in. We won’t talk about that.
When I was nine, one of my favorite songs was “Que Sera, Sera; Whatever Will Be Will Be.” That was when I believed anything was possible. However, my child-like dreams did not include infertility, infidelity, and all the injustices of living in a fallen world.
When we are young, we are closer to God—before innocence is torn from us by sin. Kids easily believe in miracles or magic. Call it what you want. No wonder when we’re old, we must become like little children. Are we redeemed enough to see our Savior through the darkened glass of shattered dreams? A child sees the glory of a risen King—and asks no questions. Older people see the King through woe and difficult circumstances—and ask too many.
In retrospect, I am thankful God did not give me most of the things I wanted. He gave me what I needed. God’s gifts don’t always come wrapped in pretty boxes. They arrive in more mysterious ways. Sometimes, it takes time to see His workings, and that’s tough for impatient people like me.
It would have been much easier to go to a store and pick up a book on How to Get Your Life Straightened Out, Fix Your Broken Marriage, or How Not To Be Dumb During the Teenage Years. Seriously. If I could follow a twelve-step program to fix Lorilyn Roberts (never mind everybody else), I’d read that book in a weekend. Come Monday morning, I’d have my life straightened out. That would be so efficient. So, like me.
God knew better. He knew I needed time. Only time would grow me into the Christian woman He desired me to be. And only time will develop you into the Christian saint He wants you to be.
Only where wisdom seeded itself would understanding be revealed—to write the passion of my soul and feel God’s Spirit through my words. God knew above all my heart and how I longed for children. Only He knew how to make that a reality (Lord knows, I tried).
Isaiah 55:8 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
Someday, I hope to understand what that means. It’s one of those “mysteries” that God must explain to me—if I still wonder after seeing His scarred hands and feet.
When I was married, shortly before my husband left, I read the above passage and implored God, “Oh, please, let not your ways include divorce. I don’t want a divorce.” I became paranoid. I trusted a husband who had been unfaithful to me more than I trusted my heavenly Father who died for me. I feared the ridicule of my family and church, and the whispers. The ugly wounds from childhood would bite me once again. Was I not even good enough to keep a husband?
Now I chuckle. I may not be good enough for the most mundane task on any given day. I have learned to laugh at myself—even when I am the only one laughing. My daughters will tell you.
I remember that time is fleeting, pain is temporary, and the future is extraordinary. So I peck away at the typewriter, confident that I won’t go to jail for not filing my taxes—I just finished them today—and am glad to live another day. Why? So I can get out of bed in the morning, go to work, and pay more taxes.
I will remember to feed the dogs in the evening (or they will yelp), set the air conditioner to 77 when I go to bed (or I will sweat), and fill up the car with gas—it’s always empty. That makes life exciting. I won’t speed down 39th Avenue where that female police officer lurks behind a sign (I would know), and I will get my half-and-half at Publix so my coffee will taste almost as good as Starbucks. I am still working hard to kick that habit.
If your life is like mine, most of it boils down to the mundane, the ridiculous, and the absurd. Without my Lord and Savior to remind me that this is “my passion,” I think I’d go insane. God’s voice within me removes the edge, lowers my blood pressure, and convicts me of what’s essential. He helps me to remember to pray for those who are hurting, and I delight in His Word—and wonder why I fail to read the Bible more often. Or curl up on the sofa with my Kindle and get lost in a book begging me to read it—and write reviews for authors who wait with bated breath. I would know that, too.
I’d fail to find goodness in the land of the living without my relationship with Jesus Christ. His Spirit brings me hope—for my daughters to marry Christian men and have a dozen kids; for my future—to live into my 90s like my grandparents; and for forgiveness for my past sins—even the ones I don’t remember.
God gives me the drive to live life to the fullest—work hard, play hard, and not sweat the small stuff. The small stuff trips me up, but I remind myself I will never run out of stories. I need to be careful I don’t trip over my seven-pound cat—my Border collie knows all about me stumbling, and he was very gracious.
Regrets—don’t play that game. You will never catch a glimpse of your marvelous future if you keep looking back.
Thankfully, we have an awesome God who sees clearly in colors we can’t imagine. And I bet even wrinkles, gray hair, and fat bellies look grand. Que sera, sera; whatever will be, will be.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please help me to love you more today than I did yesterday. Help me to love you tomorrow more than I do today. And please help me to remember that life is fleeting and opportunities abound to do good works in Your name. And when I sleep at night, I can say, “Que Sera, Sera; whatever will be will be.”
I really enjoyed your blog post, very inspiring. Not looking at the past but let us fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, our future. SANA
I always enjoy your posts: here, goggle+ ,Facebook,and Twitter. I've followed you for some time now, and what I like about your writing is that you are down to earth. Right here with us , the struggling Christians trying hard ,but not quite making it. I'm measuring by so called worldly standards now, but always we know that the one we follow, the Lord Jesus, is more than enough for us.
Thanks, Sana and Janet. I like to imagine someday I might be a female version of Max Lucado. I love his style, and perhaps his writings have influenced mine:)
I hope you enjoy the blog hop and win some prizes.
Thank you for your blog post. Inspiring to say the least. I agree to, whatever will be, will be 🙂 My daughter is turing 15 this year and patience is something I need to learn *sigh*
I enjoyed your post, you are just like a bunch of other people,I did a lot of soul searching and praying when my boys were growing up and now its for my grandchildren and all. When you stop caring, life is over.. I would love for my granddaughter to read either the Donkey and THe King or the oldest granddaughter The Door, sounds great…
That was a beautiful blog post. It was inspiring and such a good reminder for me to remember that the way I see things are not the way God sees things.
Thanks for the contest opportunity.
Brittany McEuen
Great post. Thanks! 🙂
Great post. Thanks! 🙂
I really enjoyed your blog post. I too loved Que sera sera. Loved Doris Day movies. I can sympathize with the dumb years with a teenager and the blessing when we smarten up again. LOL You are just a ways down the road in Odessa. I have friends there.
Great blog post. I also loved the song and Doris Day movies. You gave me a smile. I think we all have the dumb years.
It is so true with the quote Que sera sera. What will be, will be. There is no questions about it. Isaiah 55:8 say it all. God has a grand plan for each of us but we don't always want to do as instructed. Thanks for the giveaway and the inspirational message.
Thanks for this opportunity to learn about new authors.
Thank you for sharing your blog with us! I love the fact that I relate to you in the lottery non-winners section of the world! I too never play…I can always find better things to spend my money on..BOOKS being the main one! LOL
So true – I can identify with your story.
bonnieroof60@yahoo.com
Great blog post, so inspiring.. thanks for the giveaway.
I think your post is very inspirational and will help a lot of people who are struggling with different issues.
I enjoyed this post very much… I always liked that song, too. It's very hard not to play the regrets game sometimes, but I know it's important. And yes, God sees the future clearly. That's all that matters. ~Katharina
i think your post is great and very inspirational. Thank you for the very generous
giveaway
i think your post is great and very inspirational. Thank you for the very generous
giveaway
I love your bolg post
This is an emotional, uplifting blog post. Thank you so much for baring your soul and sharing this post.
Brooke Bumgardner
brooke811 at ymail.com
Great post! I like the title of it as well 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you for all your wonderful comments. I wish I could give each of you a free $25 Amazon gift certificate. The Rafflecopter picks the winner at random, but there will also be two winners of my Seventh Dimension – The Door book as well as a Kindle winner of my Children of Dreams book.
Thank you for visiting my blog site, and I hope once a month to offer more gift certificates in the future. I have two more book coming out in the next couple of months, Devotions From the Seventh Dimension and Food For Thought, a cookbook for homeschooling families. I will add you to my email list so you will know when they are available. Thanks again for visiting my site. I will check the Rafflecopter for the winner by tomorrow — when I know the time has expired for entrants. May God bless each one of you:)