When Life Doesn’t Go Your Way

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Sometimes life just isn’t fair.

We make plans—even prayerful plans—but then something happens and those plans get spoiled.

Recently it happened to me in a big way–

I prayed and prayed about starting a Bible study with a group of friends—I carefully waited until the Lord told me it was time and all of the doors started to swing open. People were available at the right times, they were interested, our goals were all the same and we even all agreed on the study—everything just lined up so easily.

Praise went up to God—I felt obedient and totally in His spirit. I usually tend to do things in my own strength; but not this time.

It was going perfectly.

Until it wasn’t.

Through a long series of babysitting upsets, misbehaving kids, and hurt feelings—the group imploded.

Well actually, everyone decided to take the summer off and revisit again in the fall.  But I can feel in my heart that it probably isn’t going to work out unless some big changes take place.  I don’t know what those changes are at this point because I’m having a hard time praying about it.

I’m upset—I did what I thought I was called to do. I stayed in God’s lane and NOT my own and this is what I get?

Logically, I know that God has something for us all to learn from this experience but my heart is a little achy and truthfully—my freakin ego is a bit bruised as well.

I think I just need to be reminded that God is faithful when things fall apart and He will meet me in the midst of the mess.

He will even bring me the community of believers that I long for. He will.

Like with most of my problems, I am turning to scripture to pull me from the lie that God is not faithful. These are my go-to verses to remind me of the faithfulness of God. I have been copying them again and again into my journal over the past few weeks and that seems to make the biggest impact to me.

8 Scriptures to Remind You of God’s Faithfulness:

James 1:12 (ESV)

”Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Psalm 91:14-16 (ESV)

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Isaiah 66:9 (NCV)

In the same way I will not cause pain
without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord.
“If I cause you the pain,
I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation,” says your God.

James 1:2-3 (ESV)

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.”

Luke 1:45 (NIV)

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

2 Timothy 4:17 (ESV)

“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

What verses remind you of God’s faithfulness? What do you do to battle the feelings of doubt when life doesn’t go your way?